Department of Molecular Genetics

Naama Barkai, Head

The molecular basis of genetics and related biological processes are under investigation in our Department. The investigators approach these processes from the most reduced and reconstructed systems up to more systemic and computational analysis. Different organisms are employed including virus, yeast, Drosophila, mouse and human. These animal models and cell culture systems are used to study the mechanisms of;
a. Basic processes in gene expression, such as transcription, translation and protein degradation.
b. Cellular responses to various stimuli, such as cytokines, growth factors and exposure to DNA-damage.
c. Regulation of cell growth, senescence, differentiation and death.
d. Development; Mechanistic view of zygote to embryo transition and development of various organs, such as brain, muscles, bones and pancreas.
e. Genetic and acquired diseases such as cancer and virus infection. Embryonic stem cell biology, early development and advance human disease modeling.
f. Study of pluripotent stem cell biology and epigenetic reprogramming.
g. Computational and system biology. The function/evolution of genes and their diversification.

E. Arama

Genetic regulation of apoptosis and its molecular mechanisms.

Roles of caspases in ?conventional? apoptosis and during cellular remodeling.

N. Barkai

Robustness and scaling of morphogen gradients .

System Biology: from functional genomics to network analysis

A. Elson

Protein phosphatases and cell signaling

1.  The role of PTPe in mammary tumorigenesis/breast cancer.

2.  The role of tyrosine phosphatases in regulating bone mass and osteoporosis.

3.  Roles of tyrosine phosphatases in regulating body mass.

4.  Roles of tyrosine phosphatases in diabetes and blood glucose homeostasis

J. Gerst

Intracellular protein and mRNA transport in cell growth and disease

1.  SNAREs and SNARE regulators in intracellular protein sorting

2.  A yeast model for Batten disease

3.  Targeted mRNA transport and the control of polarized cell growth

4.  Genome-wide mapping of mRNA localization

5.  Targeted mRNA transport and organelle biogenesis

Y. Groner

Positive and negative transcriptional regulation by Runx3

The Human Leukemia Associated Transcription Factor RUNX1/AML1 and Down syndrome leukemia

Biological function of the RUNX transcription factors

Molecular genetics of Down syndrome.

Dynamic combinatorial interactions of RUNX1 and cooperating partners during megakaryocytic differentiation
Y. Groner, Amos Tanay Department of Computer Science & Applied Mathematics

E. Hornstein

miRNA role in human disease

1.  miRNA role in motor neurons and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

2.  miRNA role in pancreas and diabetes

3.  miRNA stem cells

C. Kahana

Characterization of the regulation and role of polyamines during growth of mammalian cells

1.  Regulation of ornithine decarboxylase expression.

2.  Polyamines and apoptosis.

Identification and characterization of regulatory and structural components of the polyamine transport system.

1.  Characterization of the proteolytic machinery.

2.  Characterization of ornithine decarboxylase sequences that mediate its recognition by the proteolytic machinery.

Identification and characterization of functional domains of mammalian ornithine decarboxylase.

Characterization of ornithine decarboxylase degradation.

A. Kimchi

Programmed Cell Death: from single genes and molecular pathways towards systems level studies

1.  Deciphering the roles of the DAP genes in programmed cell death

2.  Systems biology analysis of the programmed cell death network

3.  Functional annotations of a family of death-associated kinases: DAPk, DRP-1 and ZIPk

4.  Protein translation control during cell death: structure/function analysis of the DAP5 gene

D. Lancet

Genomic and evolutionary analyses of molecular recognition systems.

1.  Identification and molecular cloning of members of the olfactory receptor multigene family, including studies of their genome organization, evolution and polymorphisms in humans.

2.  Computer analyses of structural models of olfactory receptors and other transmembrane proteins and of receptor affinity distributions.

3.  Bioinformatics analysis of long-range DNA sequences and development of whole-genome databases.

4.  Computer simulations of selection and evolution in current living organisms and at the origin of life.

S. Pietrokovski

Developing computational methods for using and identifying protein motifs and applying them for the analysis of particular protein families.

1.  Developing advanced methods for comparing protein motifs.

2.  Applying protein motif comparisons for functional and structural predictions and to database annotation.

3.  Analysis of inteins ("protein splicing" elements) and homing endonucleases.

Y. Pilpel

Systems biology of genetics regulatory networks

O. Reiner

Formation of the brain structure in human is a complex process. One of the most striking features of the human brain is characteristic convolutions. These convolutions are lacking in a severe human brain malformation known as lissencephaly (smooth brain).

1.  Identification of genes that are downstream to Lis1 mutation using microarray technology.

2.  Study of LIS1 and DCX functions through characterization of protein interactions

3.  Analysis of the developmental function of LIS1, DCX and Doublecortin-like-kinase using gene targeting in the mouse.

Functional Analysis of Genes Involved in Lissencephaly.

M. Revel

Applications of IL-6 Chimera and Interferon-beta in neurology, hematopoiesis, and oncology.
M. Revel, J. Chebath

Interleukin-6 Chimera, a superactivator of the gp130 receptor system: role in nerve myelination, neuroprotection and in the development of neuro-glial cells from embryonic tissues and stem cells.
M. Revel, J. Chebath

Transdifferentiation of neural crest cell derived melanoma into myelinating Schwann cell. Genes controlling cell growth, differentiation, melanogenesis and synthesis of myelin proteins.
M. Revel, J. Chebath

M. Rubinstein

Regulation and role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in cell survival and cell death
M. Rubinstein, Efrat Dvash, Rina Vasserman, Ofir Meir, Chiara Riganti (University of Turin, Italy).

1.  Role of glutathione transferases in cell survival and cell death under ER stress

2.  Role of ABCA1 in cholesterol-triggered endoplasmic reticulum stress

3.  Role of C/EBP beta in drug resistance of tumor cells

The mode of action of the soluble LDL receptor as an antiviral protein
M. Rubinstein, Danit Finkelshtein-Beker, Ariel Werman, Daniela Novick

Cytokine receptors and binding proteins
M. Rubinstein, D. Novick

Role of FABP4 and PPARgamma in ER stress - imlications in the metabolic syndrome
M. Rubinstein, Tali Garin, Rinat OZ, A. Rudich (Ben Gurion University), G. Hotamisligil (Harward University).

M. Schuldiner

Understanding the Molecular Mechanisms Driving Endoplasmic Reticulum Inheritance

Deciphering the Regulatory Mechanisms Driving Insertion and Maturation of Tail Anchored Proteins
M. Schuldiner, Prof. Blanche Schwappach

Y. Shaul

proteasomal degradation of intrinsically disordered proteins (IUP or IDP). the concept of degradation by default

proteasome composition, dynamics, function and regulation and various conditions.

proteasomes as a target in cancer therapy

The activation and the role of c-Abl-p73 signaling axis in response to DNA damage and cancer.

modulation of Hippo signaling by c-Abl; the role of Yap1 and TAZ transcription coactivators in cell proliferation and in apoptosis

Transcription regulation of the hepatitis B virus. To understand how overlapping promoters are autonomously functional.

The molecular basis of virus-host cell interaction. How HBV modifies cell behavior.

B. Shilo

Development of the Drosophila tracheal system.

Signaling by the Drosophila EGF receptor pathway during development.

R. Sorek

Computational discovery of novel natural antibiotics

Microbial genomics and RNAomics with Illumina sequencing

CRISPR, an antiviral microbial defense system

T. Volk

The molecular basis for muscle-tendon interactions during embryonic development

1.  The mechanism by which the RNA-binding protein Held Out Wing (HOW) regulates tissue differentiation in Drosophila.

2.  The mechansim of muscle attraction by tendon cells.

3.  The mechanism of arrest of muscle migration.

4.  Mechanisms regulating heart somatic and muscle morphogenesis

The formation of the Blood Brain Barrier in Drosophila

1.  The contribution of HOW to BBB formation

2.  Control of the unique cytoskeletal organization during BBB formation by Moody

3.  Identification of additional components required for BBB formation.

E. Zelzer

the roles of the VEGF pathway in different steps during skeletal development.

Studying the role of mechanical load on embryonic bone development