Research

Our laboratory studies mechanisms that regulate the transcription of eukaryotic protein coding genes. mRNA synthesis is regulated by many signaling pathways that control processes such as development, growth, and stress response. The lab uses a variety of experimental technologies to explore conserved fundamental mechanisms of transcription and its regulation, primarily using yeast as a model system. These approaches include molecular genetics, genomics, computational biology, biochemistry, structural biology, and biophysics.

Our current research falls into three major scientific areas: (1) Transcription factor function and specificity. Using primarily a genomics approach to examine the near complete set of yeast regulatory transcription factors, we have found surprising connections between DNA binding and function that have opened many new areas of investigation. (2) Transcription cofactor function and specificity. Combining biochemical and genomics approaches, we are investigating the gene specificity mechanisms for several conserved transcription cofactors involved in regulating large sets of genes. (3) Kinetic behavior of transcription during gene regulation. Using metabolic labeling and single cell RNA-seq, we have examined the relative transcription bursting behavior for thousands of genes and are applying this approach to understand gene activation and cofactor function in vivo. Please see our lab website for more information on these approaches and potential research projects.