Positions

We use genomic and biochemical approaches alongside computational methods for studying functions and modes of actions of long intervening noncoding RNAs, and also examine their evolution and work to place them in higher-order regulatory networks. To do so we will use various combinations of novel and existing experimental and computational methods. Candidates with background in computational or molecular biology are sought, and those with a multidisciplinary background, spanning both life sciences and computer sciences, are especially encouraged to apply.

Thinking outside the cell. While most biological research centers on what goes on inside the cell, we look at what goes on outside the cell. Our lab focuses on the cell microenvironment which includes the extracellular matrix; a collection of extracellular molecules secreted by cells that provides structural and biochemical support to the surrounding cells (ECM) and multifunctional neighboring cells. We have found that ECM enzymes, which can induce morphological changes in the matrix, affect cellular programming. This provides us with significant opportunities to influence cellular programming and interfere in disease processes that affect intimate cellular communications at the very near microenvironment of cancer and inflammatory cells. Our lab focuses on the cell microenvironment which includes the extracellular matrix; a collection of extra-cellular molecules secreted by cells that provides structural and biochemical support to the surrounding cells(ECM) and multifunctional neighboring cells. We have found that ECM enzymes, which can induce morphological changes in the matrix, affect cellular programming. This provides us with significant opportunities to influence cellular programming and interfere in disease processes that affect intimate cellular communications at the very near microenvironment of cancer and inflammatory cells.

Mitochondrial Carrier Homolog 2 (MTCH2) functions as a receptor-like protein for the pro-apoptotic BID protein (Zaltsman et al. Nat Cell Biol 2010), and was recently also identified as a new gene loci associated with obesity in humans. To assess the involvement of MTCH2 in metabolism, we initially examined its role in the skeletal muscle using a MTCH2 conditional knockout mouse. Our initial studies demonstrate that MTCH2 bridges bewteen metabolism and apoptosis and this position is open to further characterize the nature of this bridge.

The rotation will deal with the biochemical pathways underlying cell activation by growth factors. This relates to both cell proliferation and cell migration. We use DNA-arrays, yeast 2-hybrid and immunological methods to resolve specific pathways. Currently we concentrate on mechanisms that inactivate cellular signals as part of negative feedback loops. These pathways are related to pharmacological attempts to block growth factor and tyrosine kinase signaling in human cancer. In this context, the work involves several novel drugs aimed at inhibiting breast and colon cancer.

We are an interdisciplinary group developing models and experimental systems for understanding the relations between genome and epigenome structure and function. Experimentally we are building a system for perturbing chromosomal organization and systematically monitoring the resulting phenotypes, gene expression, and epigenetic makeup. This involves development of novel techniques for quantifying interaction between remote chromosomal locations (4C-seq). Computationally we are busy with analysis of genomic sequences and epigenomic organization using primary ChIP-seq, MeDIP-seq and 4C-seq data, with a particular interest in evolutionary analysis of such organization through comparison of related species.