DF/HCC Program Affiliation

Cancer Cell Biology
Cancer Genetics

DF/HCC Associations

Director, Monoclonal Antibody
Principal Investigator, Monoclonal Antibody
Member, Center Scientific Council

Research Abstract

A major area of interest for our laboratory is viral related cancer and how oncogenic viral proteins enable the transformation of normal cells into cancer. We have particular interests in the polyoma viruses including SV40, the 9 human polyoma viruses including Merkel Cell Polyoma Virus. We have found that expression of viral proteins has significant impact on the normal physiology of the cells including the cell cycle, signaling, and survival pathways. We are searching for additional mechanisms of viral induced transformation using a variety of approaches including identification of viral-host protein-protein interactions.

Another primary interest of our laboratory is the mammalian cell cycle with a particular focus on the role of the retinoblastoma family of tumor suppressors. The retinoblastoma family includes Rb1, p107 and p130. We recently identified the DREAM complex that contains DP1, Rb-related protein p130, E2F4 and the MuvB core complex of five proteins (LIN9, LIN37, LIN52 LIN54 and RBBP4). We have demonstrated that the DREAM complex is at the center of the cellular response of quiescence and senescence and serves as a master coordinator of cell cycle gene expression. Using mass-spectroscopy, expression profiling, chromatin immunoprecipitation and CHIP-Seq we are searching for additional factors that control the cell cycle. We are combining these molecular insights with genomic analysis of relevant human cancers to identify novel tumor suppressors and oncogenes.

Publications

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