Research
Amy is a structural biologist using techniques such as X-ray Crystallography, Nuclear Magnetic resonance and Small-Angle X-ray Scattering to understand how proteins work at the molecular level. The information from these types of studies can help us to understand the molecular basis of disease and guide us in drug development.
Amy has used X-ray crystallography, enzymatic analysis and cell-based assays to show how the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of the Hepatitis C virus begins replication of its genome correctly. She has investigated how DNA repair proteins are directed to the sites of DNA breakage and, more recently, has elucidated the molecular basis of regulation of the Hedgehog signalling pathway which is overactive in many forms of cancer.
Since joining the University of Worcester, Amy has continued her research into the Hedgehog signalling pathway, specifically focussing on its role in Leukaemia.
Publications
Journal articles
Cherry, AL, Nott, TJ, Kelly, G, Rulten, SL, Caldecott, K, Smerdon, SJ: Versatility in phospho-dependent molecular recognition of the XRCC1 and XRCC4 DNA-damage scaffolds by aprataxin-family FHA domains. DNA Repair 35, 116-125.
Cherry AL, Dennis CA, Baron A, Eisele LE, Thommes PA, Jaeger J: Hydrophobic and charged residues in the C-terminal arm of Hepatitis C virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase regulate initiation and elongation. J Virol. 2015,89(4), 2052-63.
Cherry AL, C Finta, M Karlström, Q Jin, T Schwend, J Astorga-Wells, R A Zubarev, M Del Campo, A R Criswell, L Jovine, R Toftgård: Structural basis of GLI binding and regulation by tumor suppressor SUFU. Acta Cryst. D2013,69(12):2563-79.
Toftgård R, C Finta, A Cherry, A Fullgrabe, M Kasper, L Jovine: Hedgehog signalling and cancer initiation. FEBS J. 2012,279, 26-26.
Han, L, M Monne, H Okumura, T Schwend, AL Cherry, D Flot, T Matsuda, L Jovine: Insights into egg coat assembly and egg-sperm interaction from the X-ray structure of full-length ZP3.Cell2010,143,404-415.
Becherel, OJ*, B Jakob*, AL Cherry*, N Gueven, M Fusser, AW Kijas, C Peng, S Katyal, PJ McKinnon, J Che, Epe B, Smerdon SJ, Taucher-Scholz G, Lavin MF: CK2 phosphorylation-dependent interaction between aprataxin and MDC1 in the DNA damage response.Nucleic Acids Res2010,38, 1489-1503.
*These authors contributed equally to this work.