MD Anderson Events

Pediatrics Research Seminar Series: Roles of Histone Methylation Modifiers in Cancer and Cellular Differentiation

The Department of Pediatrics Research invites investigators with expertise in the field of pediatric tumors or relevant areas of research to present the recent findings to faculty, students and post-doctoral fellows.

Date: 2/26/13, 9am to 10am
Time: 2/26/13, 9am to 10am
Location: Smith Research Building, Conference SRB1.122
Format: Seminar/Conference
Facilitator: Vidya Gopalakrishnan PhD
Speaker: Min Gyu Lee, Assistant Professor Dept. of Molecular & Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Speaker Bio: My laboratory has studied the roles of chromatin-modifying enzymes and chromatin-binding proteins in stem cell differentiation and cancer-epigenetic events. Specifically, we have focused on characterizing the roles of histone lysine methylation and its reversal process called “demethylation”, both of which play a central role in epigenetic and transcriptional control of gene expression. Our current work is based on our previous studies with far-reaching impacts: 1) the first identified demethylase LSD1/BHC110 that removes methyl groups from dimethyl histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) is regulated by its cofactor proteins CoREST and histone deacetylases; 2) the identification and functional characterization of two novel families of histone demethylases represented by JARID1d and UTX/KDM6A that reverse tri- and dimethyl H3K4 and tri- and dimethyl H3K27, respectively. Thus, we have been defining the roles of the H3K4 methyltransferase MLL4 and the H3K27 demethylase KDM6A in stem cell differentiation and the roles of the H3K4 demethylase JARID1d and the H3K36 demethylase KDM2A in cancer-epigenetic events. In parallel, I have built a strong collaborative network with other researchers, including those in our institute, Baylor College of Medicine, etc. I believe that my expertise, my research team’s competence and my collaborators’ support will lead to a successful accomplishment for the goals of the proposed studies.
Contact: Tiffany Tran - (713) 563-3208 - tttran4@mdanderson.org

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