The extracellular matrix (ECM) of the breast (and other organs and tissues) is composed of hundreds of soluble and insoluble proteins which play key roles in controlling cell behaviour. Using micro-mechanical methods, 3D imaging and biochemical and proteomic analysis techniques Dr Sherratt’s research aims to characterise the causes and consequences of ageing and disease in ECM-rich tissues. 

Dr Michael Sherratt

Senior Lecturer in Molecular Biochemistry

Stopford Building

University of Manchester

Manchester M13 9PT

Phone: 0161 275 1439

Email: Michael.sherratt@manchester.ac.uk

https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/researchers/michael-sherratt(b93c504a-aa0a-4ca6-8a3c-73653ec21b8f).html

Dr Mike Sherratt graduated with a BSc in Biology from Manchester University in 1989, and gained an MSc from UMIST in 1992. After studying in Manchester he took up a post as a Research Assistant in Microbiology at the University of Leeds, contributing to studies which demonstrated for the first time that patients in intensive care units contract pneumonia from their own intestinal flora. Mike returned to Manchester to commence a PhD (awarded 1997) in Prof. Cay Kielty’s laboratory, embedded within the internationally renowned Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research. Following two years working as a secondary school teacher and subsequently as a Medical School Lecturer with Voluntary Service Overseas in Malawi, Mike returned to Manchester as a postdoctoral research associate and subsequently holder of a Research into Ageing Fellowship and then Senior Fellowship. He is now a Senior Lecturer in Molecular Biochemistry, PI on a Walgreens Boots Alliance Programme grant and Associate Lead for PEP (Years 1 and 2) for the Manchester MBChB programme.

Proteomic fingerprints of damage in extracellular matrix assemblies

Eckersley, A., Ozols, M., O'Cualain, R., Keevill, E-J., Foster, A. R., Pilkington, S., Knight, D., Griffiths, CEM., Watson, R. & Sherratt, M., 2020, In: Matrix Biology Plus.

DOI: 10.1016/j.mbplus.2020.100027 

Mike’s PhD, and subsequent postdoctoral positions and independent fellowships, focussed on the impact of ageing on elastic fibres. In his more recent work as a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer, and in collaboration with colleagues across the biomedical and physical sciences, Mike’s laboratory has developed: i) new approaches (microCT) to visualise the 3D structure and measure the mechanical properties of native tissues, ii) a new mass spectrometry analysis technique (peptide location fingerprinting) which can detect proteins subject to structural modification (damage) in complex tissue proteomes and iii) an improved, machine learning derived, algorithm to predict protease cleavage sites. His current MBC-oriented work focusses on the impact of ionising radiation (X-rays) on the structure and biological function of breast stroma ECM proteins.

Circadian rhythms in skin and other elastic tissues

Sherratt, M. J., Hopkinson, L., Naven, M., Hibbert, S. A., Ozols, M., Eckersley, A., Newton, V. L., Bell, M. & Meng, Q-J., 2019, In: Matrix biology : journal of the International Society for Matrix Biology.

Raised mammographic density: Causative mechanisms and biological consequences

Sherratt, M. J., McConnell, J. C. & Streuli, C. H., 3 May 2016, In: Breast Cancer Research. 18, 1, 45.

Visualising the 3D microstructure of stained and native intervertebral discs using X-ray microtomography

Disney, C., Madi, K., A.J., B., Lee, P., Hoyland, J. & Sherratt, M., 2017, In: Scientific Reports. 7, 16279.

Increased peri-ductal collagen micro-organization may contribute to raised mammographic density

Mcconnell, J., O'Connell, O. V., Brennan, K., Weiping, L., Howe, M., Joseph, L., Knight, D., O'Cualain, R., Lim, Y., Leek, A., Waddington, R., Rogan, J., Gandhi, A., Astley, S., Gandhi, A., Kirwan, C., Streuli, C., Sherratt, M. & Streuli, C., 8 Jan 2016, In: Breast Cancer Research. 18, 5.

Morphological characterisation of unstained and intact tissue micro-architecture by X-ray computed micro- and nano-tomography

Walton, L. A., Bradley, R. S., Withers, P. J., Newton, V. L., Watson, R. E. B., Austin, C. & Sherratt, M. J., 15 May 2015, In: Scientific Reports. 5, 10074.

A potential role for endogenous proteins as sacrificial sunscreens and antioxidants in human tissues

Hibbert, S., Watson, R., Gibbs, N., Costello, P., Baldock, C., Weiss, A. S., Griffiths, C. & Sherratt, M. J., 11 Apr 2015, In: Redox biology. 5, p. 101-113 12 p.