Section: Research

Postdoctoral Position Available

Gary Stein, Ph.D.

Academic Role: Professor

Faculty Appointment(s) In:
   Cell Biology

Other Affiliation(s):
   Cancer Center

Regulation of Cell Cycle and Tissue-Specific Genes Controlling Proliferation and Differentiation in Biological Control and Cancer

Our research program addresses control of proliferation and differentiation in normal and tumor cells. We are defining, at the molecular, biochemical and cellular levels, regulatory parameters of proliferation in relation to the progressive development of cell and tissue phenotypic properties. We are focusing on mechanisms regulating cell cycle and cell growth-related genes as well as genes associated with tissue-specific structure and function. Competency for proliferation and cell cycle progression are being examined using the histone gene which is expressed during the S-phase of the cell cycle as a paradigm for responsiveness to a broad spectrum of physiological regulatory signals. The postproliferative transcription of tissue-specific genes is being studied during differentiation of osteoblasts, hematopoietic stem cells, promyelocytic leukemia cells and osteosarcoma cells.

Ongoing experimental approaches are directed to pursuing proliferation/differentiation interrelationships by: 1) characterization of transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that are developmentally modulated; 2) determining contributions of chromatin structure, nucleosome organization and the nuclear matrix; 3) investigating mechanisms that mediate the intranuclear targeting of transcription factors to subnuclear sites that support gene expression; and 4) evaluating consequences of abrogated growth control in transformed and tumor cells for the developmental expression of proliferation and phenotype-related genes. We are translating our understanding of promoter regulatory elements and cognate transcription factors which exhibit proliferation-dependent or tissue-restricted activities into strategies for gene therapy.

Office: S3-310
Phone: 508-856-5625
E-mail: Gary.Stein@umassmed.edu
Keywords: Stem Cell Biology, Cancer, Cell Cycle, Nuclear Architecture, Gene Regulation

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Postdoctoral Position Available Cell Cycle and Tissue-Specific Transcriptional Control Postdoctoral position available to investigate transcriptional regulation of cell cycle and tissue-specific genes. Emphasis is on developmental, growth factor and steroid hormone responsive control of proliferation and differentiation in normal and tumor cells. We are actively pursuing functional interrelationships between nuclear architecture (chromatin structure, nucleosome organization and the nuclear matrix) and expression of cell cycle and phenotype restricted genes (see Vaughan et al., Nature 377:362-365; Zeng et al., PNAS 94:6746-6751; Guo et al., PNAS 94:121-126). Please forward a curriculum vitae with 3 letters of reference to: Gary S. Stein Janet L. Stein Jane B. Lian Andre J. van Wijnen Department of Cell Biology University of Massachusetts Worcester Campus 55 Lake Ave. North Worcester, MA 01655