Michael Downey, University of Ottawa

Research

Metabolism Polyphosphate Protein Interactions Polyphosphorylation Kinase Nucleic Acid Metabolism Phosphatase Regulation Protein Processing

Latest papers

An intricate functional relationship between NuA4 and Sfp1 regulates ribosome biogenesis in response to nutrient availability.
The Journal of biological chemistry · 2026
Emerging functions for nonhistone protein acetylation in budding yeast.
Trends in biochemical sciences · 2026 · senior author
Identification of polyphosphate-binding proteins in Escherichia coli uncovers targets involved in translation control and ribosome biogenesis.
mBio · 2025 · senior author

All 29 publications

Latest funding

Metabolism and function of polyphosphate chains in S. cerevisiae.
CIHR · 2024 · Nominated PI
$948,600
Molecular control of non-histone protein acetylation in budding yeast
NSERC · 2021 · Principal investigator
$120,000
Molecular control of non-histone protein acetylation in budding yeast
NSERC · 2021 · Principal investigator
$276,000

All 6 grants and awards

29 publications.

01

An intricate functional relationship between NuA4 and Sfp1 regulates ribosome biogenesis in response to nutrient availability.

Xu K, Bianco S, Beauparlant CJ, Côté V, Herrmann L, Droit A, Downey M, Nourani A, Côté J

The Journal of biological chemistry2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2026.113107 PMID: 42103225

02

Emerging functions for nonhistone protein acetylation in budding yeast.

Gibson C, Lantz I, Downey M

Trends in biochemical sciences2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2025.10.005 PMID: 41219043

03

Identification of polyphosphate-binding proteins in Escherichia coli uncovers targets involved in translation control and ribosome biogenesis.

Baijal K, Kore B, Abramchuk I, Denoncourt A, Han S, Simms A, Dagenais A, Long AR, Rudner AD, Lavallée-Adam M, Gray MJ, Downey M

mBio2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00500-25 PMID: 40621900

04

A framework for understanding and investigating polyphosphate-protein interactions.

McCarthy L, Baijal K, Downey M

Biochemical Society transactions2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1042/bst20240678 PMID: 39836110

05

Polyphosphate attachment to lysine repeats is a non-covalent protein modification.

Neville N, Lehotsky K, Klupt KA, Downey M, Jia Z

Molecular cell2024

DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.03.028 PMID: 38701741

06

Polyphosphate kinase regulates LPS structure and polymyxin resistance during starvation in E. coli.

Baijal K, Abramchuk I, Herrera CM, Mah TF, Trent MS, Lavallée-Adam M, Downey M

PLoS biology2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002558 PMID: 38478588

07

Uncovering the Role of the Yeast Lysine Acetyltransferase NuA4 in the Regulation of Nuclear Shape and Lipid Metabolism.

Laframboise SJ, Deneault LF, Denoncourt A, Downey M, Baetz K

Molecular and cellular biology2024

DOI: 10.1080/10985549.2024.2366206 PMID: 38961766

08

Modification of histidine repeat proteins by inorganic polyphosphate.

Neville N, Lehotsky K, Yang Z, Klupt KA, Denoncourt A, Downey M, Jia Z

Cell reports2023

DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113082 PMID: 37660293

09

Proteomics analysis reveals a role for E. coli polyphosphate kinase in membrane structure and polymyxin resistance during starvation.

Baijal K, Abramchuk I, Herrera CM, Stephen Trent M, Lavallée-Adam M, Downey M

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology2023Senior author

DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.06.546892 PMID: 37461725

10

The emerging landscape of eukaryotic polyphosphatases.

McCarthy L, Downey M

FEBS letters2023Senior author

DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14584 PMID: 36694267

Metabolism and function of polyphosphate chains in S. cerevisiae.

Nominated PICIHR2024Project Grant

Principal investigators: Downey, Michael S

Keywords: Kinase; Metabolism; Nucleic Acid Metabolism; Phosphatase Regulation; Polyphosphate; Protein Interactions; Protein Processing; Translation Control; Vacuole; Yeast Genetics

$948,600

Molecular control of non-histone protein acetylation in budding yeast

Principal investigatorNSERC2021Discovery Grants Program - Accelerator Supplements

Principal investigators: Downey, Michael

$120,000

Molecular control of non-histone protein acetylation in budding yeast

Principal investigatorNSERC2021Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Downey, Michael

$276,000

Lysine polyphosphorylation as a regulator of bacterial stress

Nominated PICIHR2020Project Grant

Principal investigators: Downey, Michael S

Keywords: E. Coli As A Model System; Lysine Modification; Molecular Mechanisms; Polyphosphate; Polyphosphorylation; Post-Translational Modifications; Protein Interactions; Protein Stability; Ribosome Function; Translation

$722,925

Substrate targeting by the Gcn5 acetyltransferase: mechanisms and consequences

Principal investigatorNSERC2016Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Downey, Michael

$180,000

Understanding and exploiting lysine polyphosphorylation as a new post-translational modification regulating cell growth

Nominated PICIHR2016Project Grant

Principal investigators: Downey, Michael S

Keywords: Cell Growth; Function Genomics; Metabolism; Model Systems Of Human Disease; Phosphatase; Polyphosphorylation; Post-Translational Modification; Protien-Protein Interactions; Ubiquitin; Yeast

$733,920

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology
Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Microbiologie et immunologie
Pediatrics
Physiology and Pharmacology
Microbiology
Pharmacology
Other

Co-authors at University of Ottawa, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Zongchao Jia

Faculty

2 shared papers, latest 2024

Trang Hoang

Pharmacology

1 shared papers, latest 2019

Mireille Khacho

Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology

1 shared papers, latest 2020

Moutih Rafei

Physiology and Pharmacology

1 shared papers, latest 2019

Moutih Rafei

Microbiology

1 shared papers, latest 2019

Kyoung-Han Kim

Cellular and Molecular Medicine

1 shared papers, latest 2022

Amine Nourani

Faculty

1 shared papers, latest 2026

Thien-Fah Mah

Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology

1 shared papers, latest 2024

Arnaud Droit

Microbiologie et immunologie

1 shared papers, latest 2026

Kolja Eppert

Pediatrics

1 shared papers, latest 2019

Mary-Ellen Harper

Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology

1 shared papers, latest 2019

Kristin Baetz

Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology

1 shared papers, latest 2024

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their CIHR grant from 2024

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Metabolism Dear Professor Downey, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "An intricate functional relationship between NuA4 and Sfp1 regulates ribosome biogenesis in response to nutrient availability." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your CIHR-funded project "Metabolism and function of polyphosphate chains in S. cerevisiae." (2024), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]