Molecular Cell Biology
Ram Dixit, PhD
George and Charmaine Mallinckrodt Professor and Biology Department Chair
- Email: ramdixit@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Molecular Cell Biology
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Research summary
Molecular mechanisms of cytoskeleton organization and function
Key words
cytoskeleton, molecular motors, cell morphogenesis, cell wall biogenesis, plant biology
Tamara L. Doering, MD, PhD
Alumni Endowed Professor
- Email: doering@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
Molecular Cell Biology
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Research summary
Biology and pathogenesis of the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans
Key words
biochemistry, biosynthetic pathways, cell biology, eukaryotic pathogen, gene regulation, genomic variants, glycobiology, host-pathogen interactions, microbial pathogenesis, pathogenic fungi, sterol transport, yeast
Anita Donlic, PhD
Assistant Professor
- Email: donlic@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Cancer Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Computational and Systems Biology
Research summary
Cells are not just bags of molecules - they organize their biochemistry in space, often using dynamic compartments called biomolecular condensates. Our lab is asking fundamental questions about the role of condensates in biology, such as: how do condensate environments influence RNA recognition and metabolism? How do they alter the activity of therapeutics? And how do they contribute to oncogenic cell states? We do this using interdisciplinary approaches spanning chemical biology, quantitative cell microscopy, in vitro biophysics, and machine learning. We hope to ultimately uncover how subcellular organization shapes cellular function and how these principles can be harnessed therapeutically.
Key words
condensates, RNA, chemical biology, therapeutics, microscopy, cancer
Susan K. Dutcher, PhD
Professor
- Email: dutcher@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Molecular Cell Biology
Human and Statistical Genetics
Plant and Microbial Biosciences
Research summary
The lab investigates the assembly and function of basal bodies/centrioles and cilia using genetics, biochemistry, microscopy, and computational biology in Chlamydomonas as well as human tissue culture cells. The key questions that we address are: 1.) how these microtubule-based structures are assembled, and 2.) how they function and influence cellular biology, development, and human health. Our interest in basal bodies/cilia led us to use bioinformatics and comparative genomics.
Key words
centrioles, cilia, signal transduction, cytoskeleton, lung disease
Gabor Egervari, PhD
Assistant Professor
- Email: gabor@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Biochemistry Biophysics and Structural Biology
Neurosciences
Molecular Cell Biology
Research summary
We aim to understand how metabolism influences epigenetics, gene expression and behavior, particularly in the context of substance use disorders and neurodegeneration
Key words
Metabolism, epigenetics, alcohol, addiction, neurodegeneration, Alzheimer’s
Roberta Faccio, PhD
Associate Professor
- Email: faccior@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Immunology
Cancer Biology
Research summary
interactions between bone and immune cells in inflammation and cancer
Key words
arthritis, inflammation, cancer, bone metastases, osteoclasts
Lijuan Feng
Assistant Professor
- Email: l.feng@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Developmental Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Research summary
Our lab studies how disease-associated histone mutations disrupt chromatin and epigenetic regulation, contributing to developmental disorders, brain inflammation, and cancer. We take a multidisciplinary approach that combines biochemical and genomic assays, molecular genetics, cell biology, and both Drosophila and mouse models to investigate how these mutations impair development and drive tumorigenesis. Current projects focus on neurodevelopmental disorders, cancer-associated histone mutations, chromatin–immune crosstalk, and the discovery of chromatin-associated factors. Through this work, we aim to uncover fundamental mechanisms of chromatin dysregulation and identify new therapeutic targets.
Key words
Chromatin, Epigenetics, Gene Regulation, Cancer, Developmental Disorders, Brain Inflammation
Francesca Ferraro, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
- Email: ferrarof@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Cancer Biology
Molecular Cell Biology
Immunology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Research summary
We use both mouse models and patient samples of acute myloid leukemia to understand leukemogenesis and to identify novel therapeutic targets.
Key words
Antonina Frolova, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
- Email: frolovaa@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Molecular Cell Biology
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Research summary
Improve obstetric outcomes for women and their neonates by understanding and targeting mechanisms of dysfunctional uterine contractility
Key words
Harrison W. Gabel, PhD
Associate Professor
- Email: gabelh@wustl.edu
Program affiliation
Neurosciences
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Molecular Cell Biology
Research summary
Exploration of functions for neuron-specific regulators of gene expression, leveraging genes and mechanisms implicated in human neurologic disease to point us toward critical pathways in the brain.
Key words
Epigenetics, Neurodevelopment, Rett syndrome, non-CpG DNA methylation, Transcription, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Neurodevelopmental disease