Postdoctoral Position Available

Roger Davis, Ph.D.

Academic Role: Professor

Faculty Appointment(s) In:
   Program in Molecular Medicine

Joint Faculty In:
   Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology

Other Affiliation(s):
   Center for AIDS Research
   Interdisciplinary Graduate Program
   Program in Neuroscience

Mechanisms by which growth factors regulate cellular proliferation

The goal of this laboratory is to understand the molecular mechanism by which growth factors and cytokines regulate cellular proliferation and survival. A specific focus of our studies is to understand how MAP kinase signaling pathways, which are initiated at the cell surface, regulate the expression of genes in the nucleus.

These MAP kinase pathways include the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), the c-Jun amino-terminal kinases (JNKs), and the p38 MAP kinases. The methods that we are using include recombinant DNA technology, protein chemistry, somatic cell genetics, and general biochemical techniques.

The significance of this research is that there are many disease states, such as cancer, that are characterized by abnormal cellular proliferation. A detailed understanding of the molecular processes involved in the control of cell growth is required for the design of rational treatments for these diseases.

Figure

Figure Legend

Schematic representation of the human MAP kinase signal transduction pathway network.

Selected publications (323 total)

Jaeschke, A. , and Davis, R. J.   “Metabolic  stress  signaling  mediated  by  mixed-lineage  kinases”  Molecular Cell 27:498-508  (2007).  

Kennedy, N.J., Martin, G., Ehrhardt, A. G., Cavanagh-Kyros, J., Kuan, C-Y., Rakic, P., Flavell, R.A., Treistman, S.N., and Davis, R.J.  “Requirement of JIP scaffold  proteins  for NMDA-mediated signal transduction”  Genes Dev.  21, 2336-2346  (2007). 

Hübner, A., Barrett, T., Flavell, R. A. and Davis, R. J.  “Multi-site phosphorylation regulates Bim stability and apoptotic activity”.  Molecular Cell  30, 415-425 (2008). 
 
Thornton, T. M., Pedraza-Alva, G., Deng, B.,  Wood, C. D., Aronshtam, A., Sabio, G., Clements, J. L., Matthews, D. E., Doble, B., Davis, R. J., and Rincon., M.  “Phosphorylation by p38 MAP kinase is an alternative pathway for GSK3beta inactivation.  Science  320, 667-670  (2008).  
 
Sabio, G., Das, M., Mora, A.,  Zhang, Z., Jun, J. Y., Ko, H. J., Barrett, T., Kim, J. K., and Davis, R. J.  “A  stress  signaling  pathway  in  adipose  tissue regulates  hepatic  insulin  resistance.”  Science  322, 1539-1543 (2008). 
  
Das, M., Sabio, G., Jiang, F., Rincón, M., Flavell, R.A., and Davis, R.J.  “Induction of hepatitis by JNK-mediated expression of TNFalpha.”  Cell  136, 249-260  (2009).  
 
 
 

Rotation Projects

Laboratory rotations are available to study signal mammalian transduction mechanisms. Several projects are available, including studies of protein kinase cascades, gene expression, the cell cycle, and apoptosis. Targeted gene disruption approaches in mice combined with biochemical and molecular biology studies will be examined.

Laboratory Personnel

Research Associates: Madhumita Das Ph.D., Anette Huebner Ph.D., Shashi Kant Ph.D., Caroline Morel Ph.D., Guadalupe Sabio Ph.D., Claire Standen Ph.D., Ping Xu Ph.D.

Research Assistants: Tammy Barrett, Vicky Benoit, Julie Cavanagh-Kyros, Linda Lesco, Judy Reilly,

Graduate Student:  Cristina Cellurale

Administrative Assistant:  Kathy Gemme

Academic Background

Roger J. Davis received his BA (1979) and his PhD (1983) from the Department of Biochemistry at Cambridge University (U.K.). He received a Damon Runyon-Walter Winchell Cancer Fund Fellowship to do postdoctoral work at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Following his postdoctoral work, he remained at the University of Massachusetts Medical School as a faculty member. He is an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Office: Biotech II, Suite 309
Phone: 508-856-6054
E-mail: Roger.Davis@umassmed.edu
Keywords: Neurobiology, Cancer Biology, Diabetes, Signal Transduction

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