I graduated with a B.Sc. Honours degree from Imperial College London and spent a year working in GlaxoWellcome before obtaining a PhD from the University of Dundee with Prof. Tom Owen-Hughes. I then did a postdoc in Switzerland at the Friedrich Miescher Institute with Prof. Susan Gasser before joining the School of Biology as a lecturer in 2013.
My research focusses on chromatin dynamics from local chromatin structure to global nuclear organization and how this regulates cellular processes. In particular, I am interested in ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling enzymes and telomere maintenance. My goal is to understand how the cross-talk between these systems is regulated within a developmental context and to uncover novel targets of chromatin remodelling enzymes. This is done by combining forward genetic analysis in budding yeast and C. elegans with biochemistry to obtain mechanistic insight into novel chromatin remodelling enzymes and the means by which they affect telomere function.
Publications
POT-3 preferentially binds the terminal DNA-repeat on the telomeric G-overhang
Yu, X., Gray, S. & Ferreira, H., 25 Jan 2023, In: Nucleic Acids Research. 51, 2, p. 610–618 9 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
DNA damage-induced nucleosome depletion enhances homology search independently of local break movement
Cheblal, A., Challa, K., Seeber, A., Shimada, K., Yoshida, H., Ferreira, H. C., Amitai, A. & Gasser, S. M., 15 Oct 2020, In: Molecular Cell. 80
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
The ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling enzyme Uls1 prevents Topoisomerase II poisoning
Swanston, A., Zabrady, K. & Ferreira, H. C., 9 Jul 2019, In: Nucleic Acids Research. 47, 12, p. 6172–6183 12 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Structure of the chromatin remodelling enzyme Chd1 bound to a ubiquitinylated nucleosome
Sundaramoorthy, R., Hughes, A. L., El-Mkami, H., Norman, D. G., Ferreira, H. & Owen-Hughes, T., 6 Aug 2018, In: eLife. 7, 28 p., e35720.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
The ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling enzyme Uls1 prevents Topoisomerase II poisoning
Swanston, A., Zabrady, K. & Ferreira, H. C., 2018, In: biorxiv.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
The shelterin protein POT-1 anchors Caenorhabditis elegans telomeres through SUN-1 at the nuclear periphery
Ferreira, H. C., Towbin, B. D., Jegou, T. & Gasser, S. M., 9 Dec 2013, In: Journal of Cell Biology. 203, 5, p. 727-735 9 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Regulating repression: roles for the Sir4 N-terminus in linker DNA protection and stabilization of epigenetic states
Kueng, S., Tsai-Pflugfelder, M., Oppikofer, M., Ferreira, H. C., Roberts, E., Tsai, C., Roloff, T-C., Sack, R. & Gasser, S. M., May 2012, In: PLoS Genetics. 8, 5, 19 p., e1002727.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
The PIAS homologue Siz2 regulates perinuclear telomere position and telomerase activity in budding yeast
Ferreira, H. C., Luke, B., Schober, H., Kalck, V., Lingner, J. & Gasser, S. M., Jul 2011, In: Nature Cell Biology. 13, 7, p. 867-874
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Yeast telomerase and the SUN domain protein Mps3 anchor telomeres and repress subtelomeric recombination
Schober, H., Ferreira, H. C., Kalck, R., Gehlen, L. R. & Gasser, S. M., 15 Apr 2009, In: Genes & Development. 23, 8, p. 928-938 11 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
MacroH2A Allows ATP-Dependent Chromatin Remodeling by SWI/SNF and ACF Complexes but Specifically Reduces Recruitment of SWI/SNF
Chang, E. Y., Ferreira, H., Somers, J., Nusinow, D. A., Owen-Hughes, T. & Narlikar, G. J., 23 Dec 2008, In: Biochemistry. 47, 51, p. 13726-13732 7 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Histone modifications influence the action of Snf2 family remodelling enzymes by different mechanisms
Ferreira, H., Flaus, A. & Owen-Hughes, T., 30 Nov 2007, In: Journal of Molecular Biology. 374, 3, p. 563-579 17 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Histone tails and the H3 alpha N helix regulate nucleosome mobility and stability
Ferreira, H., Somers, J., Webster, R., Flaus, A. & Owen-Hughes, T., Jun 2007, In: Molecular and Cellular Biology. 27, 11, p. 4037-4048 12 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Analysis of nucleosome repositioning by yeast ISWI and Chd1 chromatin remodeling complexes
Stockdale, C., Flaus, A., Ferreira, H. & Owen-Hughes, T., 16 Jun 2006, In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. 281, 24, p. 16279-16288 10 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Direct observation of DNA distortion by the RSC complex
Lia, G., Praly, E., Ferreira, H., Stockdale, C., Tse-Dinh, YC., Dunlap, D., Croquette, V., Bensimon, D. & Owen-Hughes, T., 3 Feb 2006, In: Molecular Cell. 21, 3, p. 417-425 9 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Lighting up nucleosome spacing
Ferreira, H. & Owen-Hughes, T., 11 Dec 2006, In: Nature Structural and Molecular Biology. 13, 12, p. 1047-1049 4 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
Nucleosome dynamics
Stockdale, C., Bruno, M., Ferreira, H., Garcia-Wilson, E., Wiechens, N., Engeholm, M., Flaus, A. & Owen-Hughes, T., 2006, TRANSCRIPTION. Roberts, SGE., Weinzierl, ROJ. & White, RJ. (eds.). LONDON: Portland Press Ltd., p. 109-119 11 p. (BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY SYMPOSIUM).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
De novo methylation of nucleosomal DNA by the mammalian Dnmt1 and Dnmt3A DNA methyltransferases
Gowher, H., Stockdale, CJ., Goyal, R., Ferreira, H., Owen-Hughes, T. & Jeltsch, A., 26 Jul 2005, In: Biochemistry. 44, 29, p. 9899-9904 6 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Sin mutations alter inherent nucleosome mobility
Flaus, A., Rencurel, C., Ferreira, H., Wiechens, N. & Owen-Hughes, T., 28 Jan 2004, In: EMBO Journal. 23, 2, p. 343-353 11 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Histone H2A/H2B dimer exchange by ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling activities
Bruno, M., Flaus, A., Stockdale, C., Rencurel, C., Ferreira, H. & Owen-Hughes, T., Dec 2003, In: Molecular Cell. 12, 6, p. 1599-1606 8 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review