MOLECULAR EMBRYOLOGY

A. The cellular and developmental roles of the mammalian Nek kinases:

The NIMA-related (Nek) family of protein kinase is emerging as evolutionarily conserved and key cell cycle regulatory proteins. Mammalian genomes harbor 11 members of this family, several of which were first cloned and characterized in our laboratory. The functions of these enzymes are still quite mysterious and the major aims of our lab are:

1. To decipher the cellular and developmental roles of the Nek kinases mainly by employing classical and inducible gene targeting approaches.
2. To identify the signaling modules in which Nek7 participate. A methodology designated Stable Isotopic Labeling with Amino Acids in Cell Culture (SILAC) enables us to identify proteins differentially expressed or modified in wt versus Nek7 mutant MEF cells. The lists of Nek7-affected proteins suggest novel functions in cytoskeleton arrangement and cell adhesion, roles which are currently substantiated and investigated.  

B. The molecular functions of Codanin-1

The congenital dyserythropoietic anemias (CDAs) are a group of rare inherited disorders characterized by impaired erythropoiesis and characteristic cytopathology of erythroid cells. In collaboration with Prof. Hannah Tamary from Schneider Children's Medical Center, we are studying the major etiological agent of CDA-1, the codanin-1 protein. Mutant mice and cells serve to identify erythropoietic-specific function as well as ubiquitous molecular functions.