Keith R Fox Ma, Mphil, Phd

Biography

Career History 2000-present: Professor of Biochemistry. University of Southampton, UK. 2012-2013: Acting Head of Biological Science. University of Southampton, UK. 1994-2000: Reader. Division of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, UK. 1992-1994: Senior Lecturer. Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Southampton, UK. 1989-1994: Lister Institute Research Fellow. 1987-1991: Lecturer. Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Southampton, UK. 1982-1986: Research Fellow. Emmanuel College, Univeristy of Cambridge, UK. 1980-1986: Research Associate. Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, UK.Academic Qualifications 1980: PhD (Pharmacology). University of Cambridge, UK. 1978: MPhil (Pharmacology). University of Cambridge, UK. 1977: MA Natural Sciences (Biochemistry). University of Cambridge, UK

Research Interest

Research interests My research concerns the sequence specific recognition of DNA by small molecules, oligonucleotides and proteins, and the formation of unusual DNA structures (triplexes and quadruplexes). Compounds that bind to DNA in a sequence specific fashion have potential for artificially controlling gene expression and may be used as anticancer or antiviral agents. Several DNA binding antibiotics are currently used in cancer chemotherapy, and we are seeking to understand the molecular mechanisms by which they bind to DNA with a view to designing new agents with improved selectivity. In all our studies we make extensive use of the footprinting technique, using both natural and synthetic DNA fragments, and have developed this assay as a powerful tool for measuring the specificity, stability and kinetics of ligand-DNA interactions. This has been used to determine the sequence selectivity of several DNA-binding small molecules.