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| Name |
Groudine, Mark |
| Location
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Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center |
| Primary Field
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Medical Genetics, Hematology and Oncology |
| Secondary Field
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Cellular and Developmental Biology |
 Election Citation
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Groudine made several seminal contributions to our understanding of how exactly genes are turned on and off in animals. He showed how changes in the structure of chromatin, which comprises chromosomes, help determine whether genes are activated or silenced. In addition, by pinpointing what is required to prompt RNA enzymes to successfully copy gene-containing regions of DNA, he revealed the molecular triggers of various cancers, such as Burkitt's lymphoma. |
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Research Interests
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My laboratory investigates the relationships among chromatin structure, transcriptional activators, and the regulation of gene expression during cellular differentiation. Using the human and mouse beta-globin loci as models, our work suggests a multi-step model for gene activation, involving alterations in the nuclear location of the loci and transactivators, followed by high-level transcription of the beta-globin genes. In addition, our analysis of enhancer function suggests that these elements antagonize gene silencing by establishing and/or maintaining domains permissive for transcription, as well as preventing localization of a gene near heterochromatin. |
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