People

Dr Charalampos (Babis) Rallis

Honorary Senior Lecturer
School of Life Sciences
Dr Charalampos (Babis) Rallis

Profile

Biography

The Rallis Lab uses Systems Biology approaches in fission yeast and human tissue culture systems to investigate the molecular basis of cellular fitness, cancer and ageing with a focus on the nutrient-responsive signalling pathway Target of Rapamycin (TOR). The aim is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms and principles behind senescence and lifespan and apply this knowledge for the amelioration of age-related diseases. Finally, the group performs quantitative fitness profiling of microbiomes and mycobiomes and explore the effects of nutrition on biome physiology and subsequent effects on human healthy ageing. Self-funded students, or candidates interested in applying for fellowships to undertake research on cellular ageing and mechanisms underlying age-related disease in my laboratory, are welcome to contact Babis (c.rallis@essex.ac.uk) at any time. LABORATORY WEBSITE and further information on our work: www.rallislab.org CURRENT GROUP MEMBERS Charalampos (Babis) Rallis: Group Leader Julie Arvidson: Departmental Technician and Laboratory Manager Lynwen James: Laboratory Technician and Tissue Culture Manager Aleksandra (Ola) Dabrowska: Postdoctoral Research Associate Juhi Kumar: Postdoctoral Research Associate (Specialist Technician) Rowshan Islam: Postdoctoral Research Associate (Specialist Technician) John-Patrick Alao: Postdoctoral Research Associate Luc Legon: PhD Student Riaz Somji: PhD Student (Shared with Giotis Lab) Anne-Marie Tricolici: MSD Student Babis is a Principal Investigator and Reader in Molecular Genetics of Ageing at University of Essex, Associate Lecturer in Cell and Molecular Biology at Birkbeck College, University of London and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES: -BBSRC Pool of Experts and Committee Membership -Executive Agency for Higher Education Research Development and Innovation Funding (UEFISCDI) committee PED Committee / Panel membership -National Science Centre, Poland-Panel NZ3: Cellular and developmental biology Committee / Panel membership -Biochemical Society Research Area I: genes Committee / Panel membership -Israel Science Foundation Pool of Experts Membership. -Greek Foundation of Research and Innovation, pool of experts Membership -Scientific Reports, Editorial Board Membership -British Society for Cell Biology, Professional Membership -British Society for Developmental Biology, Professional Membership -External Examiner, MSc in Genetics and Genomics, Oxford Brookes University

Qualifications

  • PhD in Genetics and Developmental Biology National Institute for Medical Research,

  • MRes in Molecular Biology and Biomedicine University of Crete,

  • BSc in Biology University of Crete,

  • Fellow Higher Education Academy,

Appointments

University of Essex

  • Reader in Molecular Genetics of Ageing, School of Life Sciences, University of Essex (1/10/2022 - present)

  • Lecturer (R) in Molecular Genetics of Ageing, School of Life Sciences, University of Essex (20/4/2020 - 30/9/2022)

Other academic

  • Honorary Lecturer, Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London (4/1/2016 - 4/1/2022)

  • Associate Lecturer, Biological Sciences, Birkbeck College, University of London (4/2/2008 - present)

  • Research Committee Area I: Genes Member, Biochemical Society (1/2/2021 - present)

  • External Examiner, MSc in Genetics and Genomics, Oxford Brookes University (1/10/2020 - present)

  • Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry, Biosciences, University of East London (4/1/2016 - 19/4/2020)

  • Research Associate, University College London (19/4/2009 - 3/1/2016)

Research and professional activities

Research interests

Transcriptional networks in ageing and neurodegeneration

Open to supervise

Integrating cellular space and time in physiology, disease and ageing

Open to supervise

Dissection of genetic interactomes in cancer and ageing

Open to supervise

Fitness analysis of microbiomes in response to different nutritional regimes

Open to supervise

Current research

Transcriptional networks in ageing and neurodegeneration

Using 2D and 3D human neuronal cultures and analysing gene and protein networks in normal and pathological conditions.

Dissection of genetic interactomes in cancer and ageing

Genome-wide cellular phenomics approaches coupled with computational analysis towards identifying gene-gene, gene-drug and drug-drug interactions important in ageing and disease.

Fitness analysis of microbiomes in response to different nutritional regimes

Using species-agnostic phenotyping platforms to quantify fitness growth and physiology of microbiota and mycobiota relevant to host lifelong health.

Integrating cellular space and time in physiology, disease and ageing

Utilising yeast and human cellular models and dissecting the effects of diverse inputs in ageing and lifespan regulation.

Conferences and presentations

mTOR dysregulation in human nasal epithelial cells infected by the seasonal coronavirus NL63

Annual conference of Microbiology Society 2023, 17/4/2023

Publications

Publications (1)

Alao, JP. and Rallis, C., The AMPK-TORC1 signalling axis regulates caffeine-mediated DNA damage checkpoint override and cell cycle effects in fission yeast

Journal articles (56)

Alao, J-P., Legon, L., Dabrowska, A., Tricolici, A-M., Kumar, J. and Rallis, C., (2023). Interplays of AMPK and TOR in Autophagy Regulation in Yeast. Cells. 12 (4), 519-519

Gal, C., Cochrane, GA., Morgan, BA., Rallis, C., Bähler, J. and Whitehall, SK., (2023). The longevity and reversibility of quiescence in Schizosaccharomyces pombe are dependent upon the HIRA histone chaperone. Cell Cycle. 22 (17), 1921-1936

Islam, RA. and Rallis, C., (2023). Ribosomal Biogenesis and Heterogeneity in Development, Disease, and Aging. Epigenomes. 7 (3), 17-17

Islam, RA. and Rallis, C., (2023). Correction: Islam, R.A.; Rallis, C. Ribosomal Biogenesis and Heterogeneity in Development, Disease, and Aging. Epigenomes 2023, 7, 17. Epigenomes. 7 (4), 26-26

Legon, L. and Rallis, C., (2022). Genome-wide screens in yeast models towards understanding chronological lifespan regulation. Briefings in Functional Genomics. 21 (1), 4-12

Dabrowska, A., Kumar, J. and Rallis, C., (2022). Nutrient-Response Pathways in Healthspan and Lifespan Regulation. Cells. 11 (9), 1568-1568

Rallis, C., Mülleder, M., Smith, G., Au, YZ., Ralser, M. and Bähler, J., (2021). Amino acids whose intracellular levels change most during aging alter chronological lifespan of fission yeast. Journals of Gerontology - Series A. 76 (2), 205-210

Alao, J-P., Legon, L. and Rallis, C., (2021). Crosstalk between the mTOR and DNA Damage Response Pathways in Fission Yeast. Cells. 10 (2), 305-305

Martinez-Miguel, VE., Lujan, C., Espie--Caullet, T., Martinez-Martinez, D., Moore, S., Backes, C., Gonzalez, S., Galimov, ER., Brown, AEX., Halic, M., Tomita, K., Rallis, C., von der Haar, T., Cabreiro, F. and Bjedov, I., (2021). Increased fidelity of protein synthesis extends lifespan. Cell Metabolism. 33 (11), 2288-2300.e12

Rallis, C., Mülleder, M., Smith, G., Au, YZ., Ralser, M. and Bähler, J., (2021). Amino acids whose intracellular levels change most during aging alter chronological lifespan of fission yeast

Rodríguez-López, M., Gonzalez, S., Hillson, O., Tunnacliffe, E., Codlin, S., Tallada, VA., Bähler, J. and Rallis, C., (2020). The GATA Transcription Factor Gaf1 Represses tRNAs, Inhibits Growth, and Extends Chronological Lifespan Downstream of Fission Yeast TORC1. Cell Reports. 30 (10), 3240-3249.e4

Bjedov, I. and Rallis, C., (2020). The Target of Rapamycin Signalling Pathway in Ageing and Lifespan Regulation. Genes. 11 (9), 1043-1043

Alao, JP., Johansson-Sjölander, J., Rallis, C. and Sunnerhagen, P., (2020). Caffeine Stabilises Fission Yeast Wee1 in a Rad24-Dependent Manner but Attenuates Its Expression in Response to DNA Damage. Microorganisms. 8 (10), 1512-1512

Pai, C-C., Hsu, K-F., Durley, SC., Keszthelyi, A., Kearsey, SE., Rallis, C., Folkes, LK., Deegan, R., Wilkins, SE., Pfister, SX., De León, N., Schofield, CJ., Bähler, J., Carr, AM. and Humphrey, TC., (2019). An essential role for dNTP homeostasis following CDK-induced replication stress. Journal of Cell Science. 132 (6), jcs226969-

Rodriguez-Lopez, M., Gonzalez, S., Hillson, O., Tunnacliffe, E., Codlin, S., Tallada, V., Bahler, J. and Rallis, C., (2019). The GATA transcription factor Gaf1 represses tRNA genes, inhibits growth, and extends chronological lifespan downstream of fission yeast TORC1. bioarxiv

Pai, C-C., Hsu, K-F., Durley, SC., Keszthelyi, A., Kearsey, SE., Rallis, C., Folkes, LK., Deegan, R., Wilkins, SE., Pfister, SX., León, ND., Schofield, CJ., Bähler, J., Carr, AM. and Humphrey, TC., (2019). An essential role for dNTP homeostasis following CDK-induced replication stress

Hillson, O., Gonzalez, S. and Rallis, C., (2018). Prospects of Pharmacological Interventions to Organismal Aging. BioMolecular Concepts. 9 (1), 200-215

Ellis, DA., Mustonen, V., Rodríguez-López, M., Rallis, C., Malecki, M., Jeffares, DC. and Bähler, J., (2018). Uncovering Natural Longevity Alleles from Intercrossed Pools of Aging Fission Yeast Cells. Genetics. 210 (2), 733-744

Atkinson, SR., Marguerat, S., Bitton, DA., Rodríguez-López, M., Rallis, C., Lemay, J-F., Cotobal, C., Malecki, M., Smialowski, P., Mata, J., Korber, P., Bachand, F. and Bähler, J., (2018). Long noncoding RNA repertoire and targeting by nuclear exosome, cytoplasmic exonuclease, and RNAi in fission yeast. RNA. 24 (9), 1195-1213

Ellis, DA., Mustonen, V., Rodríguez-López, M., Rallis, C., Malecki, M., Jeffares, DC. and Bähler, J., (2018). Uncovering Natural Longevity Alleles from Intercrossed Pools of Aging Fission Yeast Cells

Hoyos-Manchado, R., Reyes-Martín, F., Rallis, C., Gamero-Estévez, E., Rodríguez-Gómez, P., Quintero-Blanco, J., Bähler, J., Jiménez, J. and Tallada, VA., (2017). RNA metabolism is the primary target of formamide in vivo. Scientific Reports. 7 (1), 15895-

Gonzalez, S. and Rallis, C., (2017). The TOR Signaling Pathway in Spatial and Temporal Control of Cell Size and Growth. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. 5 (JUN), 61-

Rallis, C., Townsend, S. and Bähler, J., (2017). Genetic interactions and functional analyses of the fission yeast gsk3 and amk2 single and double mutants defective in TORC1-dependent processes. Scientific Reports. 7 (1), 44257-

Jeffares, DC., Jolly, C., Hoti, M., Speed, D., Shaw, L., Rallis, C., Balloux, F., Dessimoz, C., Bähler, J. and Sedlazeck, FJ., (2017). Transient structural variations have strong effects on quantitative traits and reproductive isolation in fission yeast. Nature Communications. 8 (1), 14061-

Atkinson, SR., Marguerat, S., Bitton, DA., Rodríguez-López, M., Rallis, C., Lemay, J-F., Cotobal, C., Malecki, M., Mata, J., Bachand, F. and Bähler, J., (2017). Long non-coding RNA repertoire and regulation by nuclear exosome, cytoplasmic exonuclease and RNAi in fission yeast

Malecki, M., Bitton, DA., Rodríguez-López, M., Rallis, C., Calavia, NG., Smith, GC. and Bähler, J., (2016). Functional and regulatory profiling of energy metabolism in fission yeast. Genome Biology. 17 (1), 240-

Brault, A., Rallis, C., Normant, V., Garant, J-M., Bähler, J. and Labbé, S., (2016). Php4 Is a Key Player for Iron Economy in Meiotic and Sporulating Cells. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics. 6 (10), 3077-3095

Rallis, C. and Bähler, J., (2016). Cell-based screens and phenomics with fission yeast.. Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 51 (2), 86-95

Tomalin, LE., Day, AM., Underwood, ZE., Smith, GR., Dalle Pezze, P., Rallis, C., Patel, W., Dickinson, BC., Bähler, J., Brewer, TF., Chang, CJ-L., Shanley, DP. and Veal, EA., (2016). Increasing extracellular H₂O₂ produces a bi-phasic response in intracellular H₂O₂, with peroxiredoxin hyperoxidation only triggered once the cellular H₂O₂-buffering capacity is overwhelmed. Free Radical Biology and Medicine. 95, 333-348

Vishwanatha, A., Rallis, C., Bevkal Subramanyaswamy, S., D'Souza, CJM., Bähler, J. and Schweingruber, ME., (2016). Identification of nuclear genes affecting 2-Deoxyglucose resistance in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.. FEMS Yeast Research. 16 (6), fow061-fow061

Bischof, L., Převorovský, M., Rallis, C., Jeffares, DC., Arzhaeva, Y. and Bähler, J., (2016). Spotsizer: High-throughput quantitative analysis of microbial growth.. BioTechniques. 61 (4), 191-201

Jeffares, DC., Jolly, C., Hoti, M., Speed, D., Shaw, L., Rallis, C., Balloux, F., Dessimoz, C., Bähler, J. and Sedlazeck, FJ., (2016). Transient structural variations have strong effects on quantitative traits and reproductive isolation in fission yeast

Malecki, M., Bitton, DA., Rodriguez-Lopez, M., Rallis, C., Garcia Cavalia, N., Smith, GC. and Bahler, J., (2016). Functional and Regulatory Profiling of Energy Metabolism in Fission Yeast

Bond, M., Brown, R., Rallis, C., Bahler, J. and Mole, S., (2015). A central role for TOR signalling in a yeast model for juvenile CLN3 disease. Microbial Cell. 2 (12), 466-480

Jeffares, DC., Rallis, C., Rieux, A., Speed, D., Převorovský, M., Mourier, T., Marsellach, FX., Iqbal, Z., Lau, W., Cheng, TMK., Pracana, R., Mülleder, M., Lawson, JLD., Chessel, A., Bala, S., Hellenthal, G., O'Fallon, B., Keane, T., Simpson, JT., Bischof, L., Tomiczek, B., Bitton, DA., Sideri, T., Codlin, S., Hellberg, JEEU., van Trigt, L., Jeffery, L., Li, J-J., Atkinson, S., Thodberg, M., Febrer, M., McLay, K., Drou, N., Brown, W., Hayles, J., Carazo Salas, RE., Ralser, M., Maniatis, N., Balding, DJ., Balloux, F., Durbin, R. and Bähler, J., (2015). The genomic and phenotypic diversity of Schizosaccharomyces pombe.. Nature Genetics. 47 (3), 235-241

Bitton, DA., Atkinson, SR., Rallis, C., Smith, GC., Ellis, DA., Chen, YYC., Malecki, M., Codlin, S., Lemay, J-F., Cotobal, C., Bachand, F., Marguerat, S., Mata, J. and Bähler, J., (2015). Widespread exon skipping triggers degradation by nuclear RNA surveillance in fission yeast.. Genome Research. 25 (6), 884-896

Sideri, T., Rallis, C., Bitton, DA., Lages, BM., Suo, F., Rodríguez-López, M., Du, L-L. and Bähler, J., (2015). Parallel profiling of fission yeast deletion mutants for proliferation and for lifespan during long-term quiescence.. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics. 5 (1), 145-155

Bitton, DA., Rallis, C., Jeffares, DC., Smith, GC., Chen, YYC., Codlin, S., Marguerat, S. and Bähler, J., (2014). LaSSO, a strategy for genome-wide mapping of intronic lariats and branch points using RNA-seq.. Genome Research. 24 (7), 1169-1179

Sofola-Adesakin, O., Castillo-Quan, JI., Rallis, C., Tain, LS., Bjedov, I., Rogers, I., Li, L., Martinez, P., Khericha, M., Cabecinha, M., Bähler, J. and Partridge, L., (2014). Lithium suppresses Aβ pathology by inhibiting translation in an adult Drosophila model of Alzheimer's disease.. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. 6 (JUL), 190-

Rallis, C., López-Maury, L., Georgescu, T., Pancaldi, V. and Bähler, J., (2014). Systematic screen for mutants resistant to TORC1 inhibition in fission yeast reveals genes involved in cellular ageing and growth.. Biology Open. 3 (2), 161-171

Bitton, DA., Atkinson, SR., Rallis, C., Smith, GC., Ellis, DA., Jeffares, DC., Chen, Y., Malecki, M., Codlin, S., Lubas, M., Lemay, J-F., Bachand, F., Cotobal, C., Marguerat, S., Mata, J., Heick Jensen, T. and Bahler, J., (2014). Skip and bin: pervasive alternative splicing triggers degradation by nuclear RNA surveillance in fission yeast

Rallis, C. and Bähler, J., (2013). Inhibition of TORC1 signaling and increased lifespan: gained in translation?. Aging. 5 (5), 335-336

Rallis, C., Codlin, S. and Bähler, J., (2013). TORC1 signaling inhibition by rapamycin and caffeine affect lifespan, global gene expression, and cell proliferation of fission yeast.. Aging Cell. 12 (4), 563-573

Pancaldi, V., Saraç, OS., Rallis, C., McLean, JR., Převorovský, M., Gould, K., Beyer, A. and Bähler, J., (2012). Predicting the fission yeast protein interaction network.. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics. 2 (4), 453-467

Převorovský, M. and Rallis, C., (2011). Bright days for yeast research. Genome Biology. 12 (5), 305-305

Rallis, C., Pinchin, SM. and Ish-Horowicz, D., (2010). Cell-autonomous integrin control of Wnt and Notch signalling during somitogenesis. Development. 137 (21), 3591-3601

Maydan, M., McDonald, PC., Sanghera, J., Yan, J., Rallis, C., Pinchin, S., Hannigan, GE., Foster, LJ., Ish-Horowicz, D., Walsh, MP. and Dedhar, S., (2010). Integrin-linked kinase is a functional Mn²⁺-dependent protein kinase that regulates glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3beta) phosphorylation.. PLoS One. 5 (8), e12356-e12356

Rallis, C., (2009). New tricks for an old-favorite model. Genome Biology. 10 (9), 315-315

Hanisch, A., Vezzaro, A. and Rallis, C., (2008). Elucidating developmental gene networks. Genome Biology. 9 (6), 310-310

Bazigou, E. and Rallis, C., (2007). Cell signaling and cancer. Genome Biology. 8 (7), 310-310

Rallis, C., (2007). Chickens get their place in the sun. Genome Biology. 8 (5), 306-306

Rallis, C., (2006). Developmental genomics reaches new heights.. Genome Biology. 7 (10), 329-329

Rallis, C., Del Buono, J. and Logan, MPO., (2005). Tbx3 can alter limb position along the rostrocaudal axis of the developing embryo.. Development. 132 (8), 1961-1970

Rallis, C., Bruneau, BG., Del Buono, J., Seidman, CE., Seidman, JG., Nissim, S., Tabin, CJ. and Logan, MPO., (2003). Tbx5 is required for forelimb bud formation and continued outgrowth. Development. 130 (12), 2741-2751

Rallis, CP. and Burand, JP., (2002). Pathology and ultrastructure of Hz-2V infection in the agonadal female corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 81 (1), 33-44

Rallis, C., Stamataki, D., Pontikakis, S., Mankoo, BS. and Karagogeos, D., (2001). Isolation of the avian homologue of the homeobox gene Mox2 and analysis of its expression pattern in developing somites and limbs.. Mechanisms of Development. 104 (1-2), 121-124

Thesis dissertation (1)

Rallis, C., (2004). T-box genes in limb development and disease.

Grants and funding

2021

Integrating cellular space and time: interplays between subcellular organisation and lifespan

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

Mechanisms of uncoupling cellular growth from nutrient availability and mTOR pathway activity

Medical Research Council

2020

TOR-dependent gene and protein networks in neurodegeneration

The Royal Society

Contact

c.rallis@essex.ac.uk

Location:

Colchester Campus

More about me
RallisLab website: http://www.rallislab.org/

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