Chris Brandl, Western University
Biochemistry
Professor
London, Ontario
cbrandl@uwo.ca
Office:
(519) 661-2111 ext. 86857
Expert In
Bio/Research
The ability of cells to activate gene expression in response to changes in the environment is crucial to all cellular processes. Defects in gene expression are a principal cause of human disease most notably cancer. My lab studies the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation using yeast as a mode...
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Bio/Research
The ability of cells to activate gene expression in response to changes in the environment is crucial to all cellular processes. Defects in gene expression are a principal cause of human disease most notably cancer. My lab studies the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation using yeast as a model system to facilitate the combination of biochemical, molecular genetic and genetic techniques. Our principal focus is to determine the structure-function relationships and regulation of the SAGA complex that regulates transcription through the modification of chromatin structure.
Current studies include:
1. Determining the role of Tra1p, a 430 kDa component of the complexes that is related to a group of key cellular protein kinases. Interestingly as well as being required for transcriptional regulation Tra1 is required for telomere elongation. .
2. The mechanism by which the SAGA component protein Ada2 regulates the histone acetyltransferase activity of Gcn5. Of note, Ada2 also has molecular connections with nuclear pore function.
3. The role of post-translational modification and processing of components of the SAGA complex.
Click to Shrink <<
Current studies include:
1. Determining the role of Tra1p, a 430 kDa component of the complexes that is related to a group of key cellular protein kinases. Interestingly as well as being required for transcriptional regulation Tra1 is required for telomere elongation. .
2. The mechanism by which the SAGA component protein Ada2 regulates the histone acetyltransferase activity of Gcn5. Of note, Ada2 also has molecular connections with nuclear pore function.
3. The role of post-translational modification and processing of components of the SAGA complex.
Click to Shrink <<