Professor John Runions

Professor in Cell and Molecular Biology

School of Biological and Medical Sciences

Role

John is a cell biologist who uses microscopy to study living cells. This type of research helps to answer questions about the ways in which cells and organisms grow and develop. The focus of research in John's group is on how different structures within cells interact with each other.

The principle technique used in John's lab is laser microscopy. Confocal microscopes enable the study of living cells in a non-invasive way and, when combined with fluorescent protein technology, allow visualisation of incredible details of the way that organelles and proteins interact as cells go about the business of life.

Teaching and supervision

Courses

Modules taught

Cell biology and genetics
Green plannet
Advanced cell biology and bioimaging

John teaches on a number of undergraduate and postgraduate modules as well as supervising PhD and Masters students. As Module Leader for "Cell biology and genetics", John spends the majority of a new student's first year explaining and demonstrating the inner workings of cells. Topics covered include cell structure, how life arose, evolution, genetics, cell division, gene expression, techniques in cell and molecular biology, and the development of multicellularity.

Supervision

I welcome applications for PhD research projects in cell biology using advance microscopic techniques.

Research

John's research looks specifically at the surface of living plant cells using fluorescence microscopy. By studying protein interactions, John's group learn how plants perceive and interact with their environments.

Projects

Projects as Co-investigator

How to build a protein factory? Linking structure and function of the plant endoplasmic reticulum(01/05/2023 - 30/04/2026), funded by: Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), funding amount received by Brookes: £400,317, funded by: Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)

Publications

Vijen, Hawes, Runions, Russell, Wordsworth, Carr, Pink, Zhang, Differences in intracellular localisation of ANKH mutants that relate to mechanisms of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease and craniometaphyseal dysplasia.
Scientific Reports 10 (1) (2020) ISSN: 2045-2322 Differences in intracellular localisation of ANKH mutants that relate to mechanisms of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease and craniometaphyseal dysplasia. Open Access version on RADAR
McKenna JF, Rolfe DJ, Webb SED, Tolmie AF, Botchway SW, Martin-Fernandez ML, Hawes C, Runions J, The cell wall regulates dynamics and size of plasma-membrane nanodomains in Arabidopsis.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 116 (26) (2019) pp.12857-12862 ISSN: 0027-8424 eISSN: 1091-6490 The cell wall regulates dynamics and size of plasma-membrane nanodomains in Arabidopsis. Open Access version on RADAR
Tolmie AF, Poulet A, McKenna JF, Sassmann S, Graumann K, Deeks M, Runions J, The cell wall of Arabidopsis thaliana influences actin network dynamics
Journal of Experimental Botany 68 (16) (2017) pp.4517-4527 ISSN: 0022-0957 eISSN: 1460-2431 The cell wall of Arabidopsis thaliana influences actin network dynamics Open Access version on RADAR
Bapu D, Runions J, Kadhim M, Brooks SA, N-acetylgalactosamine glycans function in cancer cell adhesion to endothelial cells: a role for truncated O-glycans in metastatic mechanisms.
Cancer Letters 375 (2) (2016) pp.367-374 ISSN: 0304-3835 eISSN: 1872-7980 N-acetylgalactosamine glycans function in cancer cell adhesion to endothelial cells: a role for truncated O-glycans in metastatic mechanisms. Open Access version on RADAR
McKenna JF, Tolmie AF, Runions J, Across the great divide: the plant cell surface continuum
Current Opinion in Plant Biology 22 (2014) pp.132-140 ISSN: 1369-5266
Martinière A, Runions J, Protein diffusion in plant cell plasma membranes: the cell-wall corral
Frontiers in Plant Science 4 (2013) pp.515- ISSN: 1664-462X eISSN: 1664-462X
Salleh FM, Evans K, Goodall B, Machin H, Mowla SB, Mur LA, Runions J, Theodoulou FL, Foyer CH, Rogers HJ, A novel function for a redox-related LEA protein (SAG21/AtLEA5) in root development and biotic stress responses
Plant, Cell and Environment 35 (2) (2012) pp.418-429 ISSN: 0140-7791
Martinière A, Lavagi I, Nageswaran G, Rolfe DJ, Maneta-Peyret L, Luu DT, Botchway SW, Webb SE, Mongrand S, Maurel C, Martin-Fernandez ML, Kleine-Vehn J, Friml J, Moreau P, Runions J, Cell wall constrains lateral diffusion of plant plasma-membrane proteins
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109 (31) (2012) pp.12805-12810 ISSN: 0027-8424 eISSN: 1091-6490
Luu D, Martiniere A, Sorieul M, Runions J, Maurel C, Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching reveals high cycling dynamics of plasma membrane aquaporins in Arabidopsis roots under salt stress
The Plant Journal 69 (5) (2012) pp.894-905 ISSN: 0960-7412 eISSN: 1365-313X
Hooks KB, Turner JE, Graham IA, Runions J, Hooks MA, GFP-tagging of Arabidopsis Acyl-activating Enzymes Raises the Issue of Peroxisome-chloroplast Import Competition Versus Dual Localization
Journal of Plant Physiology 169 (2012) pp.1631-1638 ISSN: 0176-1617
Jaffe F W, Freschet GEC, Valdes B M, Runions J, Terry MJ, Williams LE, G-Protein-coupled Receptor-type G Proteins Are Required for Light-dependent Seedling Growth and Fertility in Arabidopsis
Plant Cell 24 (9) (2012) pp.3649-3668 ISSN: 1040-4651 eISSN: 1532-298X
Mills RF, Peaston KA, Runions J, Williams LE, HvHMA2, a P1b-ATPase from Barley, Is Highly Conserved Among Cereals and Functions in Zn and Cd Transport
PLoS ONE 7 (2012) ISSN: 1932-6203 eISSN: 1932-6203
Martinière A, Li X, Runions J, Lin J, Maurel C, Luu D-T, Salt stress triggers enhanced cycling of Arabidopsis root plasma-membrane aquaporins
Plant Signaling & Behavior 7 (4) (2012) pp.529-532 ISSN: 1559-2316 eISSN: 1559-2324
Karali D, Oxley D, Runions J, Ktistakis N, Farmaki T, The Arabidopsis Thaliana Immunophilin Rof1 Directly Interacts With PI(3)P and PI(3,5)P_2 and Affects Germination Under Osmotic Stress
PLoS ONE 7 (2012) ISSN: 1932-6203 eISSN: 1932-6203
Martiniere A, Gayral P, Hawes C, Runions J, Building bridges: formin1 of Arabidopsis forms a connection between the cell wall and the actin cytoskeleton
The Plant Journal 66 (2) (2011) pp.354-365 ISSN: 0960-7412 eISSN: 1365-313X
Martiniere A, Shvedunova M, Thomson AJW, Evans NH, Penfield S, Runions J, McWatters HG, Homeostasis of plasma membrane viscosity in fluctuating temperatures
New Phytologist 192 (2) (2011) pp.328-337 ISSN: 0028-646X
Feraru E, Feraru MI, Kleine-Vehn J, Martinière A, Mouille G, Vanneste S, Vernhettes S, Runions J, Friml J, PIN Polarity Maintenance by the Cell Wall in Arabidopsis
Current Biology 21 (4) (2011) pp.338-343 ISSN: 0960-9822
Kleine-Vehn J, Wabnik K, Martiniere A, Langowski L, Willig K, Naramoto S, Leitner J, Tanaka H, Jakobs S, Robert S, Luschnig C, Govaerts W, Hell SW, Runions J, Friml J, Recycling, clustering, and endocytosis jointly maintain PIN auxin carrier polarity at the plasma membrane
Molecular Systems Biology 7 (-) (2011) pp.540- ISSN: 1744-4292 eISSN: 1744-4292
Graumann K, Runions J, Evans DE, Characterization of SUN-domain proteins at the higher plant nuclear envelope
The Plant Journal 61 (1) (2010) pp.134-144 ISSN: 0960-7412
Graumann K, Runions J, Evans DE, Nuclear envelope proteins and their role in nuclear positioning and replication
Biochemical Society Transactions 38 (3) (2010) pp.741-746 ISSN: 0300-5127 eISSN: 1470-8752
Schoberer J, Runions J, Steinkellner H, Strasser R, Hawes C, Osterrieder A, Sequential depletion and acquisition of proteins during Golgi stack disassembly and reformation
Traffic: The moving front of cell biology 11 (11) (2010) pp.1429-1444 ISSN: 1398-9219 eISSN: 1600-0854
Tolley N, Sparkes I, Craddock CP, Eastmond PJ, Runions J, Hawes C, Frigerio L, Transmembrane domain length is responsible for the ability of a plant reticulon to shape endoplasmic reticulum tubules in vivo
The Plant Journal 64 (3) (2010) pp.411-418 ISSN: 0960-7412
Sparkes IA, Runions J, Hawes C, Griffing L, Movement and remodeling of the endoplasmic reticulum in nondividing cells of tobacco leaves
Plant Cell 21 (12) (2009) pp.3937-3949 ISSN: 1040-4651 eISSN: 1532-298X
Runions J, Shvedunova M, Graumann K, Evans DE, Dynamic interrelationships of secretory pathway endomembranes during cell division
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology 150 (3) (2008) pp.201-201 ISSN: 1095-6433
Truernit E, Bauby H, Dubreucq B, Grandjean O, Runions J, Barthelemy J, Palauqui JC,, High-resolution whole-mount imaging of three-dimensional tissue organization and gene expression enables the study of phloem development and structure in Arabidopsis
Plant Cell 20 (6) (2008) pp.1494-1503 ISSN: 1040-4651 eISSN: 1532-298X
Irons S, Graumann K, Runions J, Evans DE, Studies on the nuclear envelope targeting and retention of the N-terminus of the mammalian lamin B receptor expressed in plant cells
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology 150 (3) (2008) pp.202-202 ISSN: 1095-6433
Evans D E, Irons S L, Graumann K, Runions C J, The plant nuclear envelope
Plant Cell Monographs 14 (2008) pp.9-28 ISSN: 1861-1370 eISSN: 1861-1362
Graumann K, Evans DE, Irons S, Runions J, Dynamics of the lamin B receptor in the plant nuclear envelope
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology 146 (4, Supplement) (2007) pp.S193-S193 ISSN: 1095-6433 eISSN: 1531-4332
Sparkes IA, Runions J, Kearns A, Hawes C, Rapid, Transient Expression of Fluorescent Fusion Proteins in Tobacco Plants and Generation of Stably Transformed Plants
Nature Protocols 1 (2007) pp.2019-2025 ISSN: 1754-2189 eISSN: 1750-2799
Graunnann K, Irons SL, Runions J, Evans DE, Retention and Mobility of the Mammalian Lamin B Receptor in the Plant Nuclear Envelope
Biology of the Cell 99 (10) (2007) pp.553-562 ISSN: 0248-4900 eISSN: 1768-322X
Dunkely TPJ, Hester S, Shadforth IP, Runions J, Weimar T, Hanton SL, Griffin JL, Bessant C, Brandizzi F, Hawes CR, Watson RB, Dupree P, Lilley KS., Mapping The Arabidopsis Organelle Proteome
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 103 (2006) pp.6518-6523 ISSN: 0027-8424 eISSN: 1091-6490
Fricker M, Runions J, Moore I, Quantitative fluorescence microscopy: from art to science
Annual Review of Plant Biology 57 (1) (2006) pp.79-107 ISSN: 1543-5008
Kurup S, Runions CJ, Kohler U, Laplaze L, Hodge S Haseloff J, Marking cell lineages in living tissues
The Plant Journal 42 (2005) pp.444-453 ISSN: 0960-7412
Svistoonoff S, Laplaze L, Auguy F, Runions J, Duponnois R, Haseloff J, Franche C, Bogusz D, cg12 expression is specifically linked to infection of root hairs and cortical cells during Casuarina glauca and Allocasuarina verticillata actinorhizal development.
Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 16 (7) (2003) pp.600-607 ISSN: 0894-0282
Runions CJ, Geber MA, Evolution of the self-pollinating flower in Clarkia xantiana (Onagraceae). I. Size and development of floral organs.
American Journal of Botany 87 (2000) pp.1439-1451 ISSN: 0002-9122
Veldhoen K, Beaudet L, Runions CJ, Sharma S, Hawryshyn CW, Antibody labelling of the blue-sensitive cones in the retinae of teleost fishes.
Canadian Journal of Zoology 77 (1999) pp.1733-1799 ISSN: 0008-4301
Runions CJ, Rensing KH, Takaso T, Owens JN, Pollination of Picea orientalis (Pinaceae): saccus morphology governs pollen buoyancy
American Journal of Botany 86 (1999) pp.190-197 ISSN: 0002-9122
Runions CJ,Owens JN, Sexual reproduction of interior spruce II: fertilization to early embryo formation.
International Journal of Plant Sciences 160 (1999) pp.641-652 ISSN: 1058-5893 eISSN: 1537-5315
Runions CJ, Owens JN, Sexual reproduction of interior spruce (Pinaceae). I: Pollen germination to archegonial maturation.
International Journal of Plant Sciences 160 (1999) pp.631-640 ISSN: 1058-5893 eISSN: 1537-5315
Runions CJ, Owens JN, Pollen scavenging and rain involvement in the pollination mechanism of interior spruce.
Canadian Journal of Botany 74 (1996) pp.115-124 ISSN: 0008-4026
Runions CJ, Catalano GL, Owens JN, The pollination mechanism of seed orchard interior spruce
Canadian Journal of Forest Research 25 (1995) pp.1434-1444 ISSN: 0045-5067

Graumann K, Irons S, Runions J, Evans D, SUN domain proteins at the plant nuclear envelope
150 (3 (Supplement)) (2008) pp.S202-S202 ISSN: 1095-6433
Runions J, Brach T, Kuhner S, Hawes C, Photoactivation of GFP Reveals Protein Dynamics Within the Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane
Journal of Experimental Botany 57 (2006) pp.43-50 ISSN: 0022-0957 eISSN: 1460-2431

Barton KA, Schattat MH, Jakob T, Hause G, Wilhelm C, Mckenna JF, Mathe C, Runions J, Van Damme D, Mathur J, Epidermal Pavement Cells of Arabidopsis Have Chloroplasts ,
(2016) Epidermal Pavement Cells of Arabidopsis Have Chloroplasts Open Access version on RADAR
Runions J, Magenta and Yellow in Images Is Not a Bright Idea ,
(2007)
Owens JN, Takaso T, Runions CJ, Pollination mechanisms in conifers,
(1998)