Our laboratory is attempting to elucidate the mechanisms of regulation of multigene families, especially those that are expressed in blood cells. Out approach has been to determine the normal structural features of gene families, such as the beta globin gene complex, and to identify important regulatory features by identifying structural variations that affect the expression during development of genes in the beta globin gene family. In addition, we are studying the basic mechanisms by which the major regulatory element, the LCR, interacts with enhancers.
Much of the current effort of the lab is devoted to the isolation and characterization of transcriptional factors that regulate fetal globin gene expression. In addition, we have studied an element that insulates the domain from chromosomal position effects. Also, we are studying the signal transduction events that control genes involved in commitment of stem cells to different hematopoietic lineages.
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