Prince Henry’s Institute

 

Anthony Argentaro

 

Profile

Dr Anthony Argentaro undertook his PhD at the Howard Florey Institute, University Melbourne, studying the biochemical properties of sex determining gene SOX9. He received an NHMRC CJ Martin Fellowship and undertook a post-doctoral fellowship at the MRC Haematology Unit at Oxford University where he characterised the biochemical properties of the chromatin-remodelling factor, ATRX. He has returned to Australia and joined PHI in 2007.

 

Research Interests

Dr Argentaro's interest is in elucidating the role of ATRX during sex differentiation and understanding the molecular mechanism of how ATRX regulates gene expression.

 

Expertise

Preparation of RNA and DNA from mammalian sources, performing RT-PCR including single cell PCR and sequencing, cell culture work including maintenance of cell lines and transfections. Protein lysate preparation, extraction and quantitation, western blotting and Immunoprecipitation. Protein structure determination and analysis. Immunohistochemistry, siRNA knockdown and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation,

 

Current Research

• ATR-X syndrome & gonadal development

• Genetic mechanisms underlying hypospadias

 

Recent Achievements

• 2006 - Royal Society Travel Fellowship

• 2005 - Leukaemia Research Travel Fellowship

• 2006 - British Society of Haematology Travel Fellowship  

• 2005 - NHMRC CJ Martin Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

• Honorary Fellow of Brasnose College, University of Oxford 

 

Current Research

• ATR-X syndrome and Gonadal development

• Genetic mechanisms underlying hypospadias

 

Selected Publications

Argentaro A, Tang P, Pask AJ, O'Donnell L, Marshall-Graves J, Familari M , Harley VR. (2009) Localisation of the chromatin remodelling protein, ATRX in the adult testis, Journal of Reproduction and Development (in press).

Sim H, Argentaro A, Harley VR. Boys, girls and shuttling of SRY and SOX9. Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Aug;19(6):213-22.

Argentaro A, Yang J-C, Chapman L, Kowalczyk M, Gibbons R, Higgs D, Neuhaus D, Rhodes D. Structure of the ADD domain of the chromatin associated protein ATRX.  Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A. 2007 Jul 17;104(29):11939-44.

Argentaro A, Sim H, Kelly S, Preiss S, Clayton A, Jans D.A, Harley, V.R. A SOX9 defect of calmodulin-dependent nuclear import in campomelic dysplasia/autosomal sex reversal. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 2003 Sep 5;278(36):33829-47.

Harley V.R, Clarkson M, and Argentaro A. The molecular action and regulation of the testis determining factors, SRY and SOX9. Endocrine Reviews 2003, Aug;24(4):466-487.