Research Topics
Department of Biochemistry
Ph.D. (1972) Purdue University
Research Topics
Research Interests
Our research is directed to a molecular understandings of the mechanisms by which estrogen control cell growth, inflammation and cell death in the normal and pathologic states. Areas of current research include: (a) The mechanism by which DNA sequences signal distant parts of estrogen receptor to trigger activation of gene transcription. (b) (with Profs. B. Katzenllenbogen and J. Gardner) The use of a novel phage selection system to obtain mutant proteins which target specific genes for ligand-dependent activation or repression. (c) Control of mRNA degradation by steroid hormones. (d) Rapid non-genomic estrogen receptor activation of mitogen (stress) activated protein kinase pathways and induction of apoptosis (e) Estrogen control of the inflammatory response and apoptosis by induction of the caspase 1 and granzyme B inhibitor, proteinase inhibitor 9.
Key Words Recombinant DNA, Production or Stably Transfected Cell Lines, Signal Transduction, Apoptosis, Inflammation, Phage Genetic Selection, Molecular Evolution, RNA-protein Interactions, mRNA degradation