Prof Justin St John - Researcher Profile

Biography

Prior to his appointment as Director of the Centre for Reproduction and Development in November 2009, Professor St. John most recently held the position of Professor of Reproductive Biology, at the Mitochondrial and Reproductive Genetics Research Group, Clinical Sciences Research Institute, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick (UK).

Finishing his degree in Physiology at the University of Sheffield 1995, Professor St. John then completed his PhD entitled The role of mitochondria in male fertility at the University of Birmingham. In 2000, Professor St. John became a lecturer in Mitochondrial and Reproductive Genetics, University of Birmingham. Along with his research work, he also provided undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and supervision as well as divisional co-ordination of graduate studies.

From March 2000 until January 2001, Professor St. John undertook a Sabbatical and Mellon Fellowship at Professor Gerald Schatten’s laboratory, Oregon National Primate Research Centre in Oregon USA. Professor St. John also completed an Endeavor Fellow placement at MIMR in 2007 – 2008, which allowed him to familiarise himself with the Institute and its research.

He has numerous publications in international journals including The Lancet, Nature Chemical Biology, Nature Cell Biology, Stem Cells, Journal of Cell Science, and Genetics. Professor St John also reviews submissions for a number of journals and grant awarding bodies. In the UK, he advised Government, Parliament and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on policy related to stem cells and reproduction. He also advised the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority on stem cells and embryo policy and reviewed licence applications.

The overall aim of Professor St. John’s research is to understand how the maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is transmitted, segregated and replicated as it passes from the mature oocyte through the early preimplantation embryo, the inner cell mass cells of the blastocyst and into those cells that give rise to all somatic cells of the offspring and primordial germ cells. The primordial germ cells give rise to oocytes that carry mtDNA molecules inherited by the subsequent generation.

His current research focuses on developing and using stem cell and large animal models to define key mitochondrial DNA replication events during development and how they influence the transmission of mutant mitochondrial DNA from one generation to the next. He is an inventor on a patent that regulates mtDNA transmission in cloned animals and stem cells.

Qualifications

MITOCHONDRIAL GENETICS

Institution: University of Birmingham

Year awarded: 1999

PSYSIOLOGY

Institution: Univeristy of Sheffield

Year awarded: 1995

Publications

Book Chapters

St John, J., Campbell, K., 2012, The consequences of reprogramming a somatic cell for mitochondrial DNA transmission, inheritance and replication, in Nuclear Reprogramming and Stem Cells, eds Justin Ainscough, Shinya Yamanaka and Takashi Tada, Springer Science+Business Media, New York, United States, pp. 83-98.

St John, J., St John, B., 2011, Sperm Mitochondrial DNA, in Sperm chromatin: Biological and clinical applications in male infertility and assisted reproduction, eds Armand Zini and Ashok Agarwal, Springer, USA, pp. 81-94.

St John, J., Bowles, E., Amaral, A., 2007, Sperm mitochondria and fertilisation, in Spermatology, eds ERS Roldan and M Gomendio, Nottingham University Press, United Kingdom, pp. 399-416.

St John, J., Amaral, A., Bowles, E., Facucho-Oliveira, J., Lloyd, R., Freitas, M., Gray, H., Navara, C., Oliveira, G., Schatten, G., Spikings, E., Ramalho-Santos, J., 2006, The analysis of mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA in human embryonic stem cells, in Human Embryonic Stem Cell Protocols, eds Kursad Turksen, Humana Press, New Jersey, United States, pp. 347-374.

Journal Articles

Kelly, R.D.W., Mahmud, A., McKenzie, M., Trounce, I., St John, J.C., 2012, Mitochondrial DNA copy number is regulated in a tissue specific manner by DNA methylation of the nuclear-encoded DNA polymerase gamma A, Nucleic Acids Research [P], vol 40, issue 20, Oxford University Press, United Kingdom, pp. 10124-10138.

St John, J.C., 2012, Transmission, inheritance and replication of mitochondrial DNA in mammals: implications for reproductive processes and infertility, Cell And Tissue Research [P], vol 349, issue 3, Springer, Germany, pp. 795-808.

Rae, P., Kelly, R., Egginton, S., St John, J., 2011, Angiogenic potential of endothelial progenitor cells and embryonic stem cells, Vascular Cell [E], vol 3, issue Art. No: 11, BioMed Central Ltd, United Kingdom, pp. 1-15.

Jiang, Y., Kelly, R., Peters, A., Fulka, H., Dickinson, A., Mitchell, D., St John, J., 2011, Interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer is dependent on compatible mitochondrial DNA and reprogramming factors, PLoS ONE [P], vol 6, issue 4 (Art. No: e14805), Public Library of Science, United States, pp. 1-12.

Sanchez-Partida, L., Kelly, R., Sumer, H., Lo, C., Aharon, R., Holland, M., O'Bryan, M., St John, J., 2011, The generation of live offspring from vitrified oocytes, PLoS ONE [P], vol 6, issue 6 (Art. No: e21597), Public Library of Science, United States, pp. 1-11.

Lee, J., Peters, A., Fisher, P., Bowles, E., St John, J., Campbell, K., 2010, Generation of mtDNA homoplasmic cloned lambs, Cellular Reprogramming [P], vol 12, issue 3, Mary Ann Liebert Inc Publishers, United States, pp. 347-355.

St John, J.C., Facucho-Oliveira, J., Jiang, Y., Kelly, R., Salah, R., 2010, Mitochondrial DNA transmission, replication and inheritance: A journey from the gamete through the embryo and into offspring and embryonic stem cells, Human Reproduction Update [P], vol 16, issue 5, Oxford University Press, United Kingdom, Belgium, pp. 488-509.

Kelly, R.D.W., St John, J.C., 2010, Role of mitochondrial DNA replication during differentiation of reprogrammed stem cells, International Journal of Developmental Biology [P], vol 54, issue 11-12, Universidad del Pais Vasco * Servicio Editorial, Spain, pp. 1659-1670.

St John, J., Campbell, K.H.S., 2010, The battle to prevent the transmission of mitochondrial DNA disease: Is karyoplst transfer the answer ?, Gene Therapy [P], vol 17, issue 2, Nature Pubilshing Group, United Kingdom, pp. 147-149.

Fulka, Jnr, J., Loi, P., Ptak, G., Fulka, H., St John, J., 2009, Hope for the mammoth?, Cellular Reprogramming [P], vol 11, issue 1, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers, United States, pp. 1-4.

Taylor, R.A., Wang, H., Wilkinson, S., Richards, M.G., Britt, K.L., Vaillant, F., Lindeman, G.J., Visvader, J.E., Cunha, G.R., St John, J.C., Risbridger, G.P., 2009, Lineage enforcement by inductive mesenchyme on adult epithelial stem cells across developmental germ layers, Stem Cells [P], vol 27, issue 12, Aplhamed Press, USA, pp. 3032-3042.

Facucho-Oliveira, J., St John, J., 2009, The relationship between pluripotency and mitochondrial DNA proliferation during early embryo development and embryonic stem cell differentiation, Stem Cell Reviews [P], vol 5, issue 2, Humana Press, United States, pp. 140-158.

Fulka, H., St John, J., Fulka, Jnr, J., Hozak, P., 2008, Chromatin in early mammalian embryos: achieving the pluripotent state, Differentiation [P], vol 76, issue 1, Elsevier Ltd, United States, United Kingdom, pp. 3-14.

Fulka, Jnr, J., Fulka, H., St John, J., Galli, C., Lazzari, G., Lagutina, I., Fulka, J., Loi, P., 2008, Cybrid human embryos-warranting opportunities to augment embryonic stem cell research, International Journal of Developmental Biology [P], vol 26, issue 9, Elsevier Ltd, United Kingdom, pp. 469-474.

St John, J., Armstrong, L., Minger, S., Campbell, K., 2008, Law should recognize value of interspecies embryos, Nature [P], vol 451, issue 7179, Nature Publishing Group, United Kingdom, p. 627.

Bowles, E.J., Tecirlioglu, R.T., French, A.J., Holland, M.K., St John, J.C., 2008, Mitochondrial DNA transmission and transcription after somatic cell fusion to one or more cytoplasts, Stem Cells, vol 26, issue 3, AlphaMed Press, Inc., United States, pp. 775-782.

Bowles, E., Lee, J., Alberio, R., Lloyd, R., Stekel, D., Campbell, K., St John, J., 2007, Contrasting effects of in vitro fertilization and nuclear transfer on the expression of mtDNA replication factors, Genetics [P], vol 176, issue 3, Genetics Society of America, United States, pp. 1511-1526.

St John, J., Lovell-Badge, R., 2007, Human-animal cytoplasmic hybrid embryos, mitochondria, and an energetic debate, Nature Cell Biology [P], vol 9, issue 9, Nature Publishing Group, United Kingdom, pp. 988-992.

Facucho-Oliveira, J., Alderson, J., Spikings, E., Egginton, S., St John, J., 2007, Mitochondrial DNA replication during differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells, Journal Of Cell Science [P], vol 120, issue 22, The Company of Biologists Ltd., United Kingdom, pp. 4025-4034.

Bowles, E., Campbell, K., St John, J., 2007, Nuclear transfer: Preservation of a nuclear genome at the expense of its associated mtDNA genome(s), Current Topics In Developmental Biology [P], vol 77, issue Art. No: 10, Academic Press, United States, pp. 251-290.

Spikings, E., Alderson, J., St John, J., 2007, Regulated mitochondrial DNA replication during oocyte maturation is essential for successful porcine embryonic development, Biology Of Reproduction [P], vol 76, issue 2, Society for the Study of Reproduction, United States, pp. 327-335.

Amaral, A., Ramalho-Santos, J., St John, J., 2007, The expression of polymerase gamma and mitochondrial transcription factor A and the regulation of mitochondrial DNA content in mature human sperm, Human Reproduction [P], vol 22, issue 6, Oxford University Press, United Kingdom, Belgium, pp. 1585-1596.

Fulka, Jnr, J., Fulka, H., St John, J., 2007, Transmission of mitochondrial DNA disorders: possibilities for the elimination of mutated mitochondria, Cloning and Stem Cells [P], vol 9, issue 1, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers, United States, pp. 47-50.

Lloyd, R., Lee, J., Alberio, R., Bowles, E., Ramalho-Santos, J., Campbell, K., St John, J., 2006, Aberrant nucleo-cytoplasmic cross-talk results in donor cell mtDNA persistence in cloned embryos, Genetics [P], vol 172, issue 4, Genetics Society of America, United States, pp. 2515-2527.

El Shourbagy, S., Spikings, E., Freitas, M., St John, J., 2006, Mitochondria directly influence fertilisation outcome in the pig, Reproduction [P], vol 131, issue 2, BioScientifica Ltd, United Kingdom, pp. 233-245.

Santos, T., El Shourbagy, S., St John, J., 2006, Mitochondrial content reflects oocyte variability and fertilization outcome, Fertility and Sterility [P], vol 85, issue 3, Elsevier Inc., United States, pp. 584-591.

Poulton, J., Kennedy, S., Oakeshott, P., St John, J., 2006, Nuclear transfer to prevent mitochondrial DNA diseases, Lancet [P], vol 368, issue 9538, The Lancet Publishing Group, United Kingdom, p. 841.

Spikings, E., Alderson, J., St John, J., 2006, Transmission of mitochondrial DNA following assisted reproduction and nuclear transfer, Human Reproduction Update [P], vol 12, issue 4, Oxford University Press, United Kingdom, Belgium, pp. 401-415.

Fleming, C., Maldjian, A., Da Costa, D., Rullay, A., Haddleton, D., St John, J., Penny, P., Noble, R., Cameron, N., Davis, B., 2005, A carbohydrate-antioxidant hybrid polymer reduces oxidative damage in spermatozoa and enhances fertility., Nature Chemical Biology [P], vol 1, issue 5, Nature Publishing Group, United Kingdom, pp. 270-274.

St John, J., Moffett, O., D'Souza, N., 2005, Aberrant heteroplasmic transmission of mtDNA in cloned pigs arising from double nuclear transfer, Molecular Reproduction And Development [P], vol 72, issue 4, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, United States, pp. 450-460.

St John, J., Alderson, J., 2005, Stem-cell banking: the size of the task, Lancet [P], vol 366, issue 9502, The Lancet Publishing Group, United Kingdom, pp. 1991-1992.

St John, J., Ramalho-Santos, J., Gray, H., Petrosko, P., Rawe, V., Navara, C., Simerly, C., Schatten, G., 2005, The expression of mitochondrial DNA transcription factors during early cardiomyocyte in vitro differentiation from human embryonic stemn cells, Cellular Reprogramming [P], vol 7, issue 3, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers, United States, pp. 141-153.

St John, J., Joohki, R., Barratt, C., 2005, The impact of mitochondrial genetics on male infertility, International Journal Of Andrology [P], vol 28, issue 2, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd., United Kingdom, pp. 65-73.

Barratt, C., St John, J., Afnan, M., 2004, Clinical challenges in providing embryos for stem-cell initiatives, Lancet [P], vol 364, issue 9429, The Lancet Publishing Group, United Kingdom, pp. 115-118.

St John, J., Schatten, G., 2004, Paternal mitochondrial DNA transmission during nonhuman primate nuclear transfer, Genetics [P], vol 167, issue 2, Genetics Society of America, United States, pp. 897-905.

St John, J., Lloyd, R., Bowles, E., Thomas, E., El Shourbagy, S., 2004, The consequences of nuclear transfer for mammalian foetal development and offspring survival. A mitochondrial DNA perspective, Reproduction [P], vol 127, issue 6, BioScientifica Ltd., United Kingdom, pp. 631-641.

St John, J., 2004, The potential risks of abnormal transmission of mtDNA through assisted reproductive technologies, Reproductive Biomedicine Online [P], vol 8, issue 1, Elsevier Ltd, United Kingdom, United States, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, pp. 34-44.

Payne, C., St John, J., Ramalho-Santos, J., Schatten, G., 2003, LIS1 association with dynactin is required for nuclear motility and genomic union in the fertilized mammalian oocyte, Cell Motility And The Cytoskeleton [P], vol 56, issue 4, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., United States, pp. 245-251.

St John, J., 2002, Ooplasm donation in humans: the need to investigate the transmission of mitochondrial DNA following cytoplasmic transfer, Human Reproduction [P], vol 17, issue 8, Oxford University Press, United Kingdom, Belgium, pp. 1954-1958.

St John, J., 2002, The transmission of mitochondrial DNA following assisted reproductive techniques, Theriogenology [P], vol 57, issue 1, Elsevier Inc., United States, pp. 109-123.

Other

St John, J., Campbell, K., 2009, Method to produce a hybrid cell having a single mitochondrial genotype, United States.

Grants

Title:

Understanding mitochondrial DNA segregation and transmission.

Investigators:

St John, J, Trounce, I

Funding:

(2013 - 2017). National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

Title:

Understanding the pathogenesis of mitochondrial disease using iPS cells.

Investigators:

St John, J, Thorburn, D, Nisbet, D, Frazier, A, White, S

Funding:

(2012 - 2016). National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

Postgraduate Research Supervisions

Current Supervision

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Differentiation and encapsulation of hepatocyte-like cells derived from human amniotic epithelial cells.

Supervisors:

Manuelpillai, U (Joint-co), St John, J (Joint).

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

Fabrication and characterisation of plasma polymer thin films for stem cell patterning.

Supervisors:

Forsythe, J (Main), Nisbet, D (Associate), St John, J (Associate).

Completed Supervision

Student:

Maksimovic, J.

Program of Study:

Expression and regulation of sialic acid biosynthesis and sialyltransferase genes in the mammary gland. (PHD) 2011.

Supervisors:

St John, J (Main).

Student:

Utama, S.

Program of Study:

Monitoring and assessment of nuclear transfer pregnancies using maternal pregnancy recognition proteins. (PHD) 2012.

Supervisors:

St John, J (Main).