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Epigenetics

Faculty:


Bosco, Giovanni: Chromosomes, chromatin, cell cycle, development, meiosis, epigenetics
Chandler, Vicki: Our research investigates mechanisms of gene silencing in plants. We use functional genomics and forward and reverse genetics to study paramutation, transposable elements, transgene silencing, and chromatin control of gene expression.
Futscher, Bernard: My primary research focus is on epigenetic control of genome function and its dysregulation in human cancer.
Romagnolo, Donato: Transcriptional repression of BRCA-1. (NIEHS-NIH, US ARMY-DOD, ADCRC). Description: BRCA-1 is a transcription factor expressed in a variety of cell types. Loss of expression of BRCA-1 leads to the development of breast and ovarian cancer. Recent investigations by my group indicated that BRCA-1 is induced by estrogen (Romagnolo et al., 1998, Mol. Carcinog. 22:102-109). This steroid along with other sex hormones such as progesterone, regulate growth and the development of mammary epithelial cells. Our findings (Jeffy et al., 1999, Mol. Carcinog. 26:100-118), which have been recently cited in review articles (for example, Cancer Research, Sept 15, 2000) indicate that exposure to environmental xenobiotics can reduce significantly cell viability and the expression of BRCA-1. These observations are important because they provide new evidence that exposure to environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can be a risk factor in the onset of breast and ovarian cancer (Jeffy et al., Neoplasia, 2000 5: 1-11). This hypothesis has been confirmed in two recent studies (Cancer Research, 2002; 62:113-121; Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis, vol 38, March 2002, in press) in which we showed that repression of BRCA-1 occurs in breast cells exposed to PAHs through a p53-dependent mechanism.
Smith, Catharine: Epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation, steroid receptor action in breast cancer, signal transduction and cell cycle control, mechanism of anti-cancer drug action.
Vercelli, Donata: Research in the Functional Genomics Laboratory focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of human complex diseases, such as asthma and allergy.
Yadegari, Ramin: Control of fertilization and initiation of seed development