Section: Research

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Craig Mello, Ph.D.

 

Blais Chair of Molecular Medicine, Co-Director RNA Therapeutics Institute

Regulation of gene expression during early embryogenesis in C. elegans

Embryonic patterning in C. elegans begins during the first few divisions of the fertilized egg as sister cells become committed to distinct developmental fates. These early cell fate decisions are controlled by a small set of genes that together encode several basic developmental functions, including; (a) genes whose products organize the cytoskeleton and establish the initial polarity of the embryo, (b) genes that encode cell signaling pathways, (c) genes whose products regulate mRNA translation and protein stability, and (d) genes that encode positive and negative regulators of transcription. The long term goal of this lab is to better understand how these and other, as yet unidentified, genes function to coordinate the spatial and temporal patterning of the embryo. Our experimental approach employs classical and reverse genetic techniques, molecular biology and biochemistry.

A powerful new tool for our studies of embryogenesis (and a new area of research interest for the laboratory) involves a reverse genetic method called RNA interference or simply "RNAi." This method is similar conceptually to "antisense" however the active agent appears to be double stranded RNA and the interference effect is remarkably specific, potent and long lived. RNAi is having a truly dramatic impact on research in this organism making it possible to easily induce "knock out" phenotypes for nearly all worm genes. We are now investigating the genetics of the interference mechanism in the hope that we can better understand and use this tool. Perhaps we will learn to transplant or activate similar genetic interference mechanisms in other organisims.

For more information on Dr. Mello's research, visit his Howard Hughes website at: http://www.hhmi.org/research/investigators/mello.html

Office: Biotech Two, Suite 219
Phone: 508-856-1602
E-mail: Craig.Mello@umassmed.edu
Keywords: RNA Interference (RNAi), Signal Transduction, Gene Expression, Developmental Biology

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