Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Molecular & Cell Biology

Welcome to the Cell and Molecular Biology Group, where cutting-edge research intersects with the fundamental understanding of life. Our team is dedicated to unraveling the complexities of genetic and epigenetic regulation of gene expression, focusing on cell differentiation in muscle, bone, and adipocytes. We utilize advanced zebrafish models in addition to transgenic mice models and in vitro cell line models and innovative techniques in gene transfer and genome editing to explore the intricate signaling pathways that govern transcriptional regulation. Our research delves into the roles of molecular chaperones and ubiquitin ligases in protein stability, while investigating the impact of histone demethylases and DNA methylation on epigenetics.


Faculty

Paola Corti, PhD
Keywords: Globins, Nitric oxide, Nitrite, Zebrafish, Embryonic development, Cardiac regeneration

Alexander Drohat, PhD
Keywords: DNA repair, Epigenetics and DNA methylation, Enzymology, NMR, Structural biology, SUMO modification

Shaojun Du, PhD
Keywords: Genetic and epigenetic regulation of gene expression, Muscle, bone and adipocyte cell differentiation, Molecular chaperones and protein stability, Zebrafish models, Gene transfer and genome editing

Mariusz Karbowski, PhD
Keywords: Mitochondrial membrane dynamics, Impact of ubiquitin and proteasome-dependent control of mitochondria

Aikaterini Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos, PhD
Keywords: Cytoskeleton, Signaling, Skeletal and cardiac muscle (patho)physiology, Breast cancer

Jiayuh Lin, PhD
Keywords: IL-6, IL-11, GP130, STAT3

 

Leonid Medvid, ScD, PhD
Keywords:  Blood coagulation, Fibrinolysis, Plasma proteins structure and interaction, Fibrinogen, Fibrin, Fibrin(ogen) receptors, Fibrin-dependent inflammation

Jianfei Qi, PhD
Keywords: Transcriptional gene regulation, Epigenetics, Signaling transduction, Histone demethylase, Ubiquitin ligase, Androgen receptor, c-Myc, Prostate cancer, Castration-resistant prostate cancer, DNA damage response

Gerald Wilson, PhD
Keywords: Gene expression, RNA turnover, RNA-binding proteins, Fluorescence spectroscopy, Tumor progression, Inflammatory mediators, Lipoprotein receptors, High throughput drug screening, Assay development

Mei-Yi Wu, PhD
Keywords: Epigenetics, Chromatin remodeling protein, Breast cancer, Prostate cancer, Kidney development, Neurodegeneration