Probing biology and disease
Our cells constantly receive cues from both inside and outside the body, prompted by conditions such as injury, aging, infection, stress or even food.
To adjust to these cues, cells send and receive signals through biological pathways. Our research into the codes and cell changes associated with normal development and aging, and distinguishing them from those linked to disease and disability, will lead to new strategies to protect our health.
Director's statement
We are using model organisms—mice, fish, flies, worms and human stem cells to (1) unravel gene functions linked to mutations and epigenetic factors; (2) explore the development and regenerative capacity of the brain, heart, muscles, pancreas, limbs, liver and other organs; and (3) probe the biology of aging and organ/tissue maintenance to maintain a well-functioning organism. These insights provide the tools needed to uncover novel therapeutic targets for heart disease, neurodegeneration, muscle disorders, diabetes, cancer and other debilitating diseases.
– Rolf Bodmer, Ph.D., Program Director
Appointments
Program Director
Adjunct Appointments
Paul Grossfield, M.D.
Pamela Itkin-Ansari, Ph.D.
Chris Larson, Ph.D.
Keith Murai, Ph.D.
Publications
Age-dependent electrical and morphological remodeling of the Drosophila heart caused by hERG/seizure mutations.
Ocorr K, Zambon A, Nudell Y, Pineda S, Diop S, Tang M, Akasaka T, Taylor E
PLoS Genet 2017 May ;13(5):e1006786
Nuclear Pores Regulate Muscle Development and Maintenance by Assembling a Localized Mef2C Complex.
Raices M, Bukata L, Sakuma S, Borlido J, Hernandez LS, Hart DO, D'Angelo MA
Dev Cell 2017 Jun 5 ;41(5):540-554.e7
Spatiotemporal regulation of autophagy during Caenorhabditis elegans aging.
Chang JT, Kumsta C, Hellman AB, Adams LM, Hansen M
Elife 2017 Jul 4 ;6
Acute conversion of patient-derived Duchenne muscular dystrophy iPSC into myotubes reveals constitutive and inducible over-activation of TGFβ-dependent pro-fibrotic signaling.
Caputo L, Granados A, Lenzi J, Rosa A, Ait-Si-Ali S, Puri PL, Albini S
Skelet Muscle 2020 May 2 ;10(1):13
From Development to Aging: The Path to Cellular Senescence.
Sacco A, Belloni L, Latella L
Antioxid Redox Signal 2020 May 5 ;
Role of Proinsulin Self-Association in Mutant <i>INS</i> Gene-Induced Diabetes of Youth.
Sun J, Xiong Y, Li X, Haataja L, Chen W, Mir SA, Lv L, Madley R, Larkin D, Anjum A, Dhayalan B, Rege N, Wickramasinghe NP, Weiss MA, Itkin-Ansari P, Kaufman RJ, Ostrov DA, Arvan P, Liu M
Diabetes 2020 May ;69(5):954-964
The selective autophagy receptor SQSTM1/p62 improves lifespan and proteostasis in an evolutionarily conserved manner.
Aparicio R, Hansen M, Walker DW, Kumsta C
Autophagy 2020 Apr ;16(4):772-774
Lack of PKCθ Promotes Regenerative Ability of Muscle Stem Cells in Chronic Muscle Injury.
Fiore PF, Benedetti A, Sandonà M, Madaro L, De Bardi M, Saccone V, Puri PL, Gargioli C, Lozanoska-Ochser B, Bouché M
Int J Mol Sci 2020 Jan 31 ;21(3)
TGFB-INHB/activin signaling regulates age-dependent autophagy and cardiac health through inhibition of MTORC2.
Chang K, Kang P, Liu Y, Huang K, Miao T, Sagona AP, Nezis IP, Bodmer R, Ocorr K, Bai H
Autophagy 2019 Dec 29 ;:1-16