Interested in Gene Expression research? Take a look at what MCDB faculty are doing in this area:
Accornero, Federica
Mechanisms underlying heart and skeletal muscle diseases, with a primary focus on the role of RNA-binding proteins in regulating the expression of pathologic genes during stress challenges.
Amacher, Sharon
Interested in how cells become sequentially determined to more precisely defined fates during vertebrate embryonic development and how this process depends upon cell position and upon interactions among neighboring cells. To address these questions, we use genetics, molecular biology, time-lapse imaging, and embryology to investigate mesodermal patterning, segmentation and muscle development in the zebrafish embryo, a well-established model for human development and disease.
Artsimovitch, Irina
Molecular mechanisms of bacterial gene expression and its control by nucleic acid signals, regulatory proteins, and antibiotics.
Bisaro, David
Geminivirus replication, gene expression, and pathogenesis. The role of small RNA-directed epigenetic silencing in defense against DNA viruses.
Burd, Christin
Our studies use genetically engineered model systems to gain insight into the molecular processes that govern biological aging and the development of cancer.
Burd, Craig
Steroid hormones signal through proteins that are able to bind DNA and initiate transcriptional programs. These transcription factors are critical mediators of virtually all physiological processes and are often deregulated in diseases such as cancer. The focus of my research is to dissect the molecular mechanisms controlling these factor’s activity with a particular interest in chromatin/epigenetic regulation.
Byrd, John
The Byrd laboratory is focused on the 1) study of molecular and immune pharmacology in hematologic malignancies and 2) biology of malignant leukemia B-cell transformation. Our group is involved in identifying new targets for therapeutic exploitation and translating several novel targeted therapies and antibody based treatments from the lab to the clinic.
Chamberlin, Helen
Understanding the molecular processes underlying organogenesis.
Cole, Susan
Roles of fringe genes and Notch signaling during mouse development. Analysis of cyclic mRNA_expression during somitogenesis: linking the Notch pathway and the segmentation clock.
El-Hodiri, Heithem
Regulation of gene expression in early Xenopus neural development.
Garg, Vidu
Focus is on the genetic basis of congenital heart disease and the molecular pathways regulating normal and abnormal cardiac development, utilizing a combination of human genetic and molecular approaches to gain insight into the etiologies of congenital heart disease.
Ghoshal, Kalpana
Role of DNA methylation and microRNAs in liver disease.
Gopalan, Venkat
Biochemistry and applications of ribonuclease P, a catalytic RNP complex.
Green, Patrick
Molecular pathogenesis of human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV); molecular biology of retrovirus replication; T-cell activation/transformation.
Grotewold, Erich
Control of gene expression; metabolic engineering; evolution of transcription factors.
Guo, Peixuan
Dr. Guo's lab is really interdisciplinary with diverse technologies and variable projects involving the areas of cell biology, molecular medicine, virology, biophysics, biotechnology, biochemistry, chemistry, computation, biomedical engineering, single molecular optics, single molecular conductance, single pore sensing, RNA Nanotechnology, nucleic acid chemistry, cancer therapy, drug delivery, viral DNA packaging, and ATPase motors. The lab has been focused on the study of viral DNA packaging motor that is composed of a protein channel driven by six ATPase and geared by six RNA molecules.
Guttridge, Dennis
NF-kappa β regulation of cell growth and differentiation.
Hai, Tsonwin
Eukaryotic gene expression, stress responses, cell death (apoptosis), cell cycle regulation, signal transduction, molecular mechanisms of diseases including cancer, diabetes and liver dysfunction. Experimental systems include cell free system, cell culture, transgenic and knock-out mice models.
Henkin, Tina
Regulation of gene expression; Bacillus subtilis; grampositive bacteria; transcription antitermination; transcription activation and repression; RNAstructure and function; tRNA.
Herman, Paul
Eukaryotic cell proliferation; ras protein signaling; RNA pol II transcription.
Hollick, Jay
Heritable epigenetic variation represents a poorly understood, yet significant, component of evolutionary biology. We use genetic, cytogenetic, genomic, and molecular approaches in corn to understand both the molecular mechanism and biological function of paramutation - a process responsible for meiotically heritable epigenetic changes in gene regulation. Our studies highlight novel aspects of eukaryotic chromosome organization and function.
Hopper, Anita
Intracellular trafficking of RNA and proteins; Nucleus organization; RNA processing.
Huebner, F. Kay
The laboratory uses tissue culture, mouse models and studies of mouse and human tissues to investigate the role of genetic changes at common chromosome fragile sites in initiation or progression of cancer. We are currently focusing on the roles of two fragile genes, which are involved in deletions early in cancer development, and in our more translational projects are studying microRNA and gene expression profiles in subtypes of breast cancer.
Ibba, Michael
Our research is directed towards understanding the mechanisms that determine how cells ensure the accurate translation of the genetic code, and how changes in the underlying processes impact cellular health and contribute to microbial pathogenesis and disease. Many of these processes are essential and unique to particular systems, making them ideal potential drug targets.
Jacob, Naduparambil
Radiation therapeutics, mechanisms of radiation resistance in cancers, cancer metastasis.
Jacob, Samson
Metallothionein gene expression; protein factors that modulate ribosomal RNA gene transcription; molecular mechanisms of action of 5-fluorouracil.
Jhiang, Sissy
Protein tyrosine kinases and cancers; transgenic mice for human diseases; gene transfer of sodium/iodide symporter for radioiodine treatment in human cancers.
Johnson, Robert
The Johnson laboratory uses mouse model systems to understand the molecular and genetic changes responsible for the development of pediatric brain tumors.
Jontes, James
Role of cell adhesion molecules in the processes of synaptogenesis and circuit assembly in the developing zebrafish nervous system.
Kaspar, Brian
Investigation of cell death pathways in Central Nervous System Disorders; delivery of Gene Therapy Vectors to the CNS; identification of Neural Stem Cell Signaling Pathways and Development.
Lamb, Rebecca
Role of transcriptional regulation during flower development in the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana. Using specification of organ identity to study transcriptional networks controlling development. In addition to elucidating the molecular underpinnings of flower formation, the potential modification of transcriptional networks during evolution to give rise to varying floral morphologies is being examined.
Lee, Beth
Cell biology of osteoclasts with particular emphasis on differentiation and the cytoskeleton; mechanisms by which kidney tubule cells regulate mRNA levels during and following cellular stresses.
Lee, Robert
Targeted drug delivery systems for cancer. Gene therapy. Antisense and siRNA therapy. Liposomes and nanoparticles for drug delivery. Nanoparticle based nanomedicines. Immunotherapy for cancer.
Leone, Gustavo
Cancer biology; control of cell growth and cell death.
Lessnick, Stephen
My research takes a translational approach to Ewing sarcoma, with the overarching goal of applying basic science discoveries to the clinical care of patients with this disease. We therefore have a significant focus on the basic biology of Ewing sarcoma, including the function of the EWS/FLI oncoprotein as a transcription factor, the associated epigenetic effects mediated by the fusion protein, and the phenotypic consequences mediated by EWS/FLI and its target genes important for the development of this disease. We use a number of techniques, including high-throughput genomics, molecular biology, and biochemistry, to accomplish these goals. We strive to translate these findings to patients, by assessing whether new discoveries might serve as critical nodes needed for tumor development. For example, the lysine specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) enzyme is required for the transcriptional function of EWS/FLI. We have been studying LSD1 inhibitors as potential therapies for Ewing sarcoma by analyzing the effects of LSD1 blockade on transcription, phenotype, and ultimately tumorigenesis both in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we also analyze patient specimens as a means to validate our laboratory-based studies; these samples also provide us with new hypotheses to study in the lab. Together, this philosophy and approach allow us to take a comprehensive approach to understanding this disease, and in doing so, to make an impact on patients with this highly-aggressive pediatric and young-adult cancer.
Lilly, Brenda
The Lilly lab studies mechanisms of blood vessel formation and smooth muscle differentiation. Our specific interests include endothelial and smooth muscle cell interactions, mechanisms of Notch signaling, and transcriptional control of smooth muscle gene expression.
Lincoln, Joy
Focus is on understanding embryonic origins of adult heart disease, with a specific interest in heart valves. Lab uses in vitro and in vivo tools in combination with molecular biology, bioengineering and imaging skills to examine the mechanisms of how heart valves form in the developing embryo, and how alterations in embryogenesis give rise to dysfunctional heart valves after birth.
Liu, Yusen
Signal transduction pathways that regulate the cellular responses to extracellular stimuli. Investigate the role of MAP kinase phosphatases in the regulation of inflammatory cytokine biosynthesis in macrophages during bacterial infection. Investigations the basic mechanisms of aging and the molecular mechanisms via which triptolide induces apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells.
Ludwig, Thomas
Functional analysis of the tumor suppressor genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 in normal and malignant development. Cancer biology. Animal models of human cancer.
McBride, Kim
Focus is on elucidating causes of cardiovascular malformations, with the goal of developing novel therapies. We apply a variety of human genetic techniques (linkage, association, sequencing) to identify and characterize candidate genes. Functional consequences are studied in cell based systems. We use genetic and environmental models to examine cardiovascular developmental biology in the mouse.
McHugh, Kirk
The research efforts in my laboratory rely upon an integrated scientific approach that is designed to identify the genetic pathways responsible for the ontogenesis and pathogenesis of smooth muscle tissues. The dysregulation of smooth muscle differentiation represe.
Mehta, Kamal
Signaling and transcriptional mechanisms regulating cholesterol homeostasis.
Niewiesk, Stefan
Immune modulation by measles virus and vaccination in the presence of maternal antibodies.
Obrietan, Karl
Second messenger signaling and transcriptional pathways that regulate circadian timing: Ca2+, CREB and neuronal plasticity: peptidergic modulation of glutamatergic signaling.
Ostrowski, Michael
Nonnuclear oncogenes, ETS-family transcription factors, and the regulation of transcription during cellular differentiation and malignant transformation.
Parthun, Mark
The role of histone posttranslational modifications in the formation and regulation of chromatin.
Parvin, Jeffrey
Systems Biology, Breast Cancer, BRCA1, Ubiquitination.
Pichiorri, Flavia
Elucidating the role of microRNAs and epigenetic aberrations in multiple myeloma (MM). Lab is also focused on studying the role of MM microvesicles in cell-cell communication and on preclinical evaluation in experimental therapeutics for clinical trials.
Quan, Ning
The afferent pathways by which immune activity are transmitted to the central nervous system.
Rikihisa, Yasuko
Molecular and cellular mechanism of intracellular parasitism/Ehrlichia spp
Rosol, Thomas
The laboratory utilizes mouse models of human cancer to investigate the role of parathyroid hormone-related protein in bone metastasis and cancer-associated hypercalcemia. Metastases are monitored using in vivo bioluminescence of luciferase-transfected tumor cells. Molecular studies are focused on the regulation of PTHrP mRNA stability by transforming growth factors.
Schoenberg, Daniel
Regulation of mRNAstability; pre-mRNA processing and translation initiation; posttranscriptional control by estrogen.
Sen, Chandan
MicroRNA biology, tissue injury and repair, regenerative medicine, nutrition, oxygen and hypoxia, wound healing, stroke and neurodegeneration, myocardial infarction.
Simcox, Amanda
The role of oncogenes, tumor suppressors and Egfr signaling in growth control and development in Drosophila.
Slotkin, R. Keith
My laboratory aims to discover how potentially mutagenic “jumping genes” or transposable elements are epigenetically repressed from generation to generation, as well as how this system has been adopted over evolutionary time to regulate non-transposable element genes.
Symer, David
Causes and consequences of endogenous transposition and alternative RNA splicing in mouse and man.
Tabita, F. Robert
Molecular biology and genetic engineering of CO2 metabolism.
Wang, Qianben
Understanding the molecular pathological mechanisms underlying the development and progression of prostate cancer. Currently using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) combined with massively parallel sequencing (ChIP-seq) technique to study combinatorial transcriptional regulation by androgen receptor, collaborating transcription factors and histone modifications in prostate cancer cells. We will also apply the genome-wide ChIP technique to clinical samples obtained from different stages of prostate cancer, which would allow identification of critical cis-regulatory sequences contributing to prostate cancer progression.
Weisleder, Noah
Our laboratory studies different aspects of skeletal muscle and cardiovascular physiology, principally focusing on mechanisms of plasma membrane repair, cellular metabolism and calcium homeostasis in normal physiology and how changes in these can contribute to heart failure and various neuromuscular diseases inculding muscular dystrophy, Membrane repair is a conserved cellular process where intracellular vesicles actively patch membrane disruptions to allow survival of the cell. These studies examine the role of tripartite motif (TRIM) family E3 ubiquitin ligases in these processes and how these can be targeted as therapeutic interventions.
Wharton, Robin
Post-transcriptional gene regulation in Drosophila; germ cell biology.
Wu, Lai-Chu
V(D)J recombination; protein binding to recombination signal sequences.
Wu, Li
Research focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which immune cells disseminate HIV in order to facilitate the development of more effective interventions against HIV infection and transmission.
Yu, Jianhua
Objective of first research area is to investigate natural killer (NK) cell innate immune response to tumor cells through understanding signaling pathways, cell activation, cell subsets, and cell development of NK cells. The goal of the project is to perform NK cell-based immunotherapy to treat leukemia, glioblastoma or hepatocellular carcinoma. The second research area is regarding hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). This includes stem cell mobilization and HSCT associated complications such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and leukemia relapse.