Section: Research

Postdoctoral Position Available

Ingolf Bach, Ph.D.

Academic Role: Associate Professor

Faculty Appointment(s) In:
   Program in Gene Function and Expression
   Program in Molecular Medicine

Other Affiliation(s):
   Program in Neuroscience

Neuronal Cell Fate Specification

A fundamental question in biology is how protein complexes consisting of multiple proteins regulate basic biological processes such as embryogenesis and, when disturbed, cause cancer. Our laboratory investigates the molecular mechanisms that underlie neuronal cell fate specification events during embryogenesis using the protein network around LIM domains as a model system.

The LIM domain mediates protein-protein interactions and is found in various proteins such as LIM homeodomain transcription factors (LIM-HD), LIM-only (LMO) proteins and LIM kinases (LIMK). LIM-HD proteins have been shown in numerous examples to specify cell lineages and to regulate neuronal differentiation and brain morphogenesis during the development of many species from C. elegans to humans. LMO proteins are oncoproteins, identified as causing human cancer, whereas LIMK regulates the dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton with important consequences for cell morphology, cell motility and the development of neuronal projections. Recent data indicate that LIM domain proteins are present in cells as complexes consisting of multiple proteins and that their biological activity is regulated by LIM domain-associated cofactors.

The research carried out in our laboratory seeks to identify the molecules and molecular mechanisms by which LIM domain protein complexes are regulated during mouse and zebrafish embryogenesis by applying molecular, biochemical and genetic methods. In our previous work we have identified the cofactors CLIM/Ldb/NLI and RLIM, which bind to nuclear LIM domains and critically regulate the biological activity of LIM-HD transcription factors. We have further shown that  post-translational modifications such as ubiquitination play crucial roles in the regulation of protein complexes associated with nuclear and cytoplasmic LIM domains.

Office: LRB-513
Phone: 508-856-5627
E-mail: Ingolf.Bach@umassmed.edu
Keywords: Neurobiology, Gene Regulation, Cytoskeleton, Gene Expression, Developmental Biology

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Postdoctoral Position Available A postdoctoral position is available to study in this laboratory. Contact Dr. Bach for additional details.