Transcriptional Regulation

Aberrant gene expression contributes to variety of developmental diseases, cancers, autoimmunity and inflammation. Furthermore, viruses can co-op components of the host transcriptional and translational machinery to assure efficient replication. Coordinated gene expression requires recruitment of specific transcription factors to the appropriate DNA elements, reorganization of chromatin, efficient transcription elongation and appropriate splicing. Several laboratories that participate in ITP have direct interests in these biochemical processes with a specific focus on their role in disease onset and progression. The Denis and Faller labs are interested in defining how regulators of transcription and cell cycle progression initiate cancers including leukemias and lymphomas. The Mizgerd, Viglianti, Denis and Henderson labs are investigating the transcriptional mechanisms that lead to dysregulated gene expression of inflammatory mediators and how this contributes to diseases such as asthma, diabetes and AIDS. Finally, the Faller, Henderson and Viglianti labs are studying the relationship between host transcription and retroviruses including how viruses may alter gene expression in the cell.

Faculty involved in this research are: