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Gene Regulation and Inheritance

breast tissueThe Gene Regulation and Inheritance Program focuses on revealing basic mechanisms governing the regulation of gene expression and cell inheritance at the DNA, RNA, and protein levels, and on discovering how these mechanisms are perturbed to influence the initiation and/or progression of cancer. A major strength of the Program is the innovative science that is yielding novel insights into non-coding RNA species, RNA splicing, chromatin biology, and cell-cycle control. Alterations in these processes are critical features of the transformed phenotype. Although fundamental research is the central to this Program, many discoveries are being translated toward the clinic, due in part to the strong strategic alliance with clinical partners.

Program Co-leaders

David Spector, Ph.D.

Leemor Joshua-Tor, Ph.D.

Members of the Gene Regulation and Inheritance Program share an interest in uncovering the mechanisms governing inheritance of cell state as well as mechanisms of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation, and on understanding how those mechanisms are altered in cancer cells. The Program has three main focus areas: (1) elucidating fundamental mechanisms governing the regulation of non-coding RNAs, transcription, and cell inheritance; (2) determining how transcriptional and post-transcriptional control are dysregulated in cancer; and (3) developing therapeutic agents and biological systems to target pro-tumorigenic alterations in transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulators. The Program also has expertise in computational analysis of gene expression patterns, mRNA splicing, and mutation identification which is being used to uncover alterations that drive aberrant gene regulation and impact all three focus areas. Program members combine cell, molecular biology, biochemical, structural biology, computational, and genetic approaches. The Program is enhanced by the excellent Cancer Center Shared Resources, especially the Animal, Sequencing Technologies & Analysis, Flow Cytometry, Microscopy, and Mass Spectrometry Shared Resources.

Building publication list.
Jesse Gillis

Jesse Gillis

Of the tens of thousands of protein-coding genes in the human genome, only a small portion have an experimentally defined function. For the rest, how can we determine what they do? My lab develops computational predictions based on co-expression networks. We are applying our predictions to understand neuropsychiatric disorders.

Christopher Hammell

Christopher Hammell

As organisms develop, genes turn on and off with a precise order and timing, much like the order and duration of notes in a song. My group uses model organisms to understand the molecules that control the tempo of development. We also study how changes in the timing of gene expression contribute to diseases like cancer.

Leemor Joshua-Tor

Leemor Joshua-Tor

Our cells depend on thousands of proteins and nucleic acids that function as tiny machines: molecules that build, fold, cut, destroy, and transport all of the molecules essential for life. My group is discovering how these molecular machines work, looking at interactions between individual atoms to understand how they activate gene expression, DNA replication, and small RNA biology.

Justin Kinney

Justin Kinney

From regulating gene expression to fighting off pathogens, biology uses DNA sequence information in many different ways. My research combines theory, computation, and experiment in an effort to better understand the quantitative relationships between DNA sequence and biological function. Much of my work is devoted to developing new methods in statistics and machine learning.

Peter Koo

Peter Koo

Deep learning has the potential to make a significant impact in biology and healthcare, but a major challenge is understanding the reasons behind their predictions. My research develops methods to interpret this powerful class of black box models, with a goal of elucidating data-driven insights into the underlying mechanisms of sequence-function relationships.

Adrian R. Krainer

Adrian R. Krainer

Our DNA carries the instructions to manufacture all the molecules needed by a cell. After each gene is copied from DNA into RNA, the RNA message is "spliced" - an editing process involving precise cutting and pasting. I am interested in how splicing normally works, how it is altered in genetic diseases and cancer, and how we can correct these defects for therapy.

Rob Martienssen

Rob Martienssen

Chromosomes are covered with chemical modifications that help control gene expression. I study this secondary genetic code - the epigenome - and how it is guided by small mobile RNAs in plants and fission yeast. Our discoveries impact plant breeding and human health, and we use this and other genomic information to improve aquatic plants as a source of bioenergy.

Alea A. Mills

Alea A. Mills

Cells employ stringent controls to ensure that genes are turned on and off at the correct time and place. Accurate gene expression relies on several levels of regulation, including how DNA and its associated molecules are packed together. I study the diseases arising from defects in these control systems, such as aging and cancer.

John Moses

John Moses

My group uses click chemistry to study biological systems at the molecular level. We develop and exploit powerful bond-forming click reactions that enable the rapid synthesis of small functional molecules, including cancer drugs and chemical probes. We apply these novel molecular tools in multidisciplinary discovery projects spanning the fields of biology and chemistry.

Jon Preall

Jon Preall

Developing single-cell genomics technologies for applications related to cancer progression, immune surveillance, and discovery of rare novel cell types and transcriptional programs.

Andrea Schorn

Andrea Schorn

Transposable elements make up half of our DNA. They control gene expression and have been a major evolutionary force in all organisms. The Schorn lab investigates how small RNAs identify and silence transposable elements when they become active during development and disease.

David L. Spector

David L. Spector

The immense amount of DNA, RNA and proteins that contribute to our genetic programs are precisely organized inside the cell's nucleus. My group studies how nuclear organization impacts gene regulation, and how misregulation of non-coding RNAs contributes to human diseases such as cancer.

Bruce Stillman

Bruce Stillman

Every time a cell divides, it must accurately copy its DNA. With 3 billion “letters” in the human genome, this is no small task. My studies reveal the many steps and molecular actors involved, as well as how errors in DNA replication are involved in diseases that range from cancer to rare genetic disorders.

Lingbo Zhang

Lingbo Zhang

Proper balancing of self-renewal and differentiation in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells is a central question in hematopoiesis. My laboratory investigates how growth signal and nutrient coordinate to regulate this key process and aims to develop novel therapeutic strategies for hematological diseases and malignancies.