CDB Center: Faculty

The CDB Center Faculty is a group of individuals pursuing information in a common area of science: how the cell operates as an individual entity and how cells interact with their environments, eventually coming together with other cells to develop into an organism. Read below to learn more about the research of each CDB Center faculty member. A \| B \| C \| D \| E \| F \| G \| H \| I \| J \| K \| L \| M \| N \| O \| P \| Q \| R \| S \| T \| U \| V \| W \| X \| Y \| Z
	Ravi Allada, M.D. Neurobiology & Physiology Molecular genetics of circadian rhythms and sleep The Allada lab studies endogenous circadian clocks in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster that drive a vast repertoire of biochemical, physiological, and behavioral rhythms, such as cell division, body temperature, and sleep. Lab website \| Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program Page \| Publications

	Joseph Bass, M.D., Ph.D. Neurobiology and Physiology Molecular Genetics of Weight Regulation, Metabolism and Feeding Our research focuses on the elucidation of genetic networks regulating body weight and energy homeostasis and the impact of epigenetic modifiers on obesity and diabetes. We are taking advantage of approaches from cell and molecular biology, with a particular emphasis on engineering new mouse models of diabetes and the identification of new target genes using mutagenesis. Lab website \| Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program page \| Publications back to top

	Greg Beitel, Ph.D. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Cell Biology Molecular Genetics of Organ Morphogenesis Our laboratory's long term goal is to understand how individual cells control their shapes and coordinate with other cells to create the complex organs found in multicellular organisms. To this end, we are using genetic, molecular and cell biological approaches to identify and study genes required for the morphogenesis of the Drosophila tracheal system. Lab website \| Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program page \| Publications back to top

	Jason Brickner, Ph.D. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Cell Biology Cell Biology of Transcription Genomes have evolved to encode signals that control their spatial organization within the nucleus. This spatial organization can be exploited and manipulated to influence gene expression. We are currently working to understand how chromosomes are spatially organized and how this influences gene expression. Lab website \| Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program page \| Publications back to top

	Richard Carthew, Ph.D., Center Director Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Cell Biology RNA-Mediated Genetic Interference; Drosophila Signal Transduction Pathways Our Laboratory studies how molecular signals are decoded into information that controls cell differentiation and morphogenesis during development. Specifically, we study RNA-mediated genetic interference (RNAi), signal transduction during neuron morphogenesis, and receptor tryosine kinase signaling. Lab website \| Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Page \| Publications back to top

	Andrew Dudley, Ph.D. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Cell Biology Mechanisms of Morphogenesis We study the mechanisms that govern morphogenesis, the generation of biological form, using our favorite model system for the developing skeleton, the chick forelimb or wing. Lab website \| Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program Page \| Publications back to top

	Heike Fölsch, Ph.D. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Cell Biology Establishment and Maintenance of Cell Polarity We study the mechanisms that control protein sorting in polarized epithelial cells. Specifically, we investigate the epithelial cell specific clathrin-adaptor complex AP-1B. AP-1B directly interacts with proteins that are targeted to the basolateral domain and mediates their delivery from the trans-Golgi network to the basolateral membrane in clathrin-coated vesicles. Lab website \| Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program Page \| Publications back to top

	Richard Gaber, Ph.D. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Cell Biology Molecular Genetics of Chaperones We investigate signaling through the molecular chaperone known as the Hsp90 in the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program Page \| Publications back to top

	Linda Hicke, Ph.D. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Cell Biology Non-traditional Functions of Monoubiquitin; Signaling Receptor Downregulation We study the role of monoubiquitin and ubiquitin-binding proteins in the regulation of basic cell biological processes. Specifically, we use the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to investigate the multiple functions of ubiquitination in regulating the endocytosis and sorting of activated signaling receptors. Lab website \| Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program Page \| Publications back to top

	Robert Holmgren, Ph.D. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Cell Biology Cell-fate Specification During Development We study the process of pattern formation during animal development. Our recent work has focused on the Hedgehog (Hh) signal transduction pathway and its role in the patterning of Drosophila segments and appendages. Lab website \| Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program Page \| Publications back to top

	Curt Horvath, Ph.D. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Cell Biology Signal Transduction and Gene Regulation in Innate Immune Responses to Cancer and Viruses Our research focuses on the cellular responses to virus infection and cancer, focusing on cytokine induced transcription in the cellular innate immune response. Lab website \| Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program Page \| Publications back to top

	Carole LaBonne, Ph.D. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Cell Biology Development of the Neural Crest We study the cellular and molecular events underlying the formation, migration and differentiation of neural crest cells, using the Xenopus laevis model system. Lab website \| Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program Page \| Publications back to top

	Robert Lamb, Ph.D., Sc.D. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Cell Biology Viral Glycoproteins, Ion Channels, and RNA-Binding Proteins We are investigating the molecular structure and the mechanism of replication of two enveloped RNA viruses: influenza virus and the paramyxovirus SV5. Lab website \| Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program Page \| Publications back to top

	Andreas Matouschek, Ph.D. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Cell Biology Mechanisms of macromolecular machines To be active most proteins must fold into well-defined three-dimensional structures. However, regulated unfolding is also critically important during the life cycle of many proteins, including proteins that are translocated across membranes and proteins that are degraded by ATP-dependent proteases. The Matouschek laboratory studies the mechanism by which proteins are unfolded by translocases and proteases. Lab website \| Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program Page \| Publications back to top

	Kelly Mayo, Ph.D. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Cell Biology Gene regulation in the mammalian neuroendocrine system Hormones act as chemical messengers to control cell proliferation and differentiation during development and to maintain cellular homeostatis in the adult. The Mayo laboratory is investigating how specific hormones and their receptors modulate critical physiological processes such as growth and reproduction in mammalian organisms. Lab website \| Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program Page \| Publications back to top

	Richard Morimoto, Ph.D. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Cell Biology Polyglutamine Repeats in Neurodegenerative Diseases; Function of Molecular Chaperones We study molecular chaperones and their interactions within mis-folded substrates. Protein mis-folding, as occurs with polyglutamine expansions, is proposed as the causative agent of Huntington's Disease. Many of our experiments are carried out in the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. Lab website \| Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program Page \| Publications back to top

	Thomas O'Halloran, Ph.D. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Cell Biology Metalloregulatory proteins The O'Halloran laboratory is exploring the cell and molecular biology of transition elements. One of our approaches is to isolate novel receptors and characterize their function, structure and chemical mechanism. In other strategies, we are interrogating the vesicular trafficking of these elements by developing vital fluorescent probes that are specific for metal ions such as Zn(II). Together, these types of experiments are delineating elemental aspects of microbial and mammalian biology. Lab website \| Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program Page \| Publications back to top

	Erik Sontheimer, Ph.D. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Cell Biology Ribonucleoproteins and eukaryotic gene expression RNA molecules are essential participants in many aspects of cellular function. We aim to understand the mechanisms of RNA-mediated steps during eukaryotic gene expression. The research in the Sontheimer laboratory is focused on two critically important pathways: pre-mRNA splicing and RNA silencing. Lab Website \| Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program Page \| Publications back to top

	Xiaozhong (Alec) Wang, Ph.D. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Cell Biology Genetic Analysis of Protocadhedrin Diversity in the Central Nervous System We are interested in understanding the molecular basis for the precision and complexity of neuronal circuitry in the brain. Our present work is focused on a large family of newly identified cell adhesion molecules, protocadherins, for which we have generated multiple genetically modified protocadherins mouse models. Lab Website \| Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program Page \| Publications back to top

	Eric Weiss, Ph.D. Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Cell Biology Signaling Pathways in the Control of Cell Architecture We are interested in understanding how protein kinase signaling pathways coordinate cytoskeleton organization, membrane traffic, and gene expression to define cell architecture. We are using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to determine the physiological functions and phosphorylation targets of highly conserved kinases that control important aspects of cell morphology. Lab Website \| Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program Page \| Publications back to top