University of Washington Department of Pharmacology
WANG LABORATORY
Current Members
Edith received her B.S. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Columbia University where she studied DNA replication using DNA tumor viruses as a model system. Edith’s interest in transcriptional regulation was solidified by her postdoctoral studies at University of California, Berkeley. She currently is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms of gene expression, with an emphasis on its function in the regulation of cell proliferation, muscle differentiation and disease progression.
Yun Li, Senior Fellow
Yun is examining the function of TAF1 histone acetyltransferase activity in cyclin gene transcription and cell proliferation. Yun received her B.S. and M.S from Bejing Medical University and her Ph.D. in Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology from University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Sue Kloet, MCB Student Graduate
Susan graduated from Cornell University with a B.A. in Biology. Susan's project is to determine if mouse p53 is a substrate for TAF1 kinase activity and to map the sites of phosphorylation. She investigating the effects of protein phosphorylation on the interaction of TAF1 and TAF7 and its role in cell proliferation.
Hanna Witwicka, Senior Fellow
Hanna obtained a M.S. in Biology from University of Wroclaw, Poland and a Ph.D. of Biological Sciences from Polish Academy of Science in 2005. Hanna is carrying out structure-function studies to elucidate the mechanism that CHCR employs to antagonize muscle differentiation. For these studies, she is characterizing the differentiation potential of C2C12 mouse myoblasts that stably express wild-type CHCR or a series of C-terminal deletion mutants. Hanna has also identified and is characterizing CHCR binding proteins.
Kyung Soon Lee, Senior Fellow
Kyung Soon received her M.D., M.S., and Ph.D. from Ewha Women's University, Seoul Korea. Her research project focuses on understanding the role of the CHCR protein in muscle differentiation and the pathogenesis of myotonic dystrophy. Kyung Soon is also investigating the role of CHCR in defining the splicing pattern of the myogenic transcription factor MEF2 during muscle differentiation.
Sonam Tenzin, Lab Helper
Sonam assists with the general maintenance of laboratory supplies and equipment. His duties include the preparation of laboratory reagents.
Kate Souza, Rotating MCB Graduate Student (4/08-6/08)
Kate graduated from New Mexico State University with a B.S. in Microbiology. Our lab has identified hnRNP-U has a potential binding partner for MBNL3, an inhibitor of muscle differentiation. For her rotation project, Kate is characterizing the effect of hnRNP-U on the MEF2D splicing function and localization of MBNL3 in C2C12 muscle precursor cells under proliferation and differentiation conditions.
Keri Lewis, Research Scientist
Keri received her B.A. in Biology from Evergreen State College, WA. Her efforts have focused on determining the structure of the histone acetyltransferase (HAT) domain of TAF1. Keri assists with studies on the regulation of TAF1 HAT activity by protein phosphorylation and protein binding. She also manages the lab and maintains the Wang laboratory website.