Xiang-Jiao Yang, PhD

In eukaryotic cells, DNA is packaged with histones into chromatin which in turn controls gene activities. An interesting question is how chromatin structure is regulated for gene expression when and where it is necessary. Histone acetylation is a major player in regulating gene expression and cell growth. Levels of histone acetylation in vivo are maintained through the opposing actions of histone acetyltransferases and deacetylases. Numerous transcription factors recruit these enzymes to regulate transcription. In addition to histones, these enzymes also modify transcriptional factors (e.g. the major tumor suppressor p53) and other cellular proteins (like tubulin). Abnormal forms of the enzymes have been linked to tumorigenesis and other pathological processes.Dr. Yang is currently investigating how lysine acetylation interplays with other post-translational modifications to form intermolecular and intramolecular signaling programs for reglating histones and transcription factors in normal and cancer cells, with a special focus on embryonic and adult stem cells.Cancer, transcription, chromatin, histone, protein code, stem cell