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.
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
Systemic and heart autonomous effects of sphingosine Δ-4 desaturase deficiency in lipotoxic cardiac pathophysiology.
Walls SM, Chatfield DA, Ocorr K, Harris GL, Bodmer R
Dis Model Mech 2020 Jul 8 ;
De Novo Variants in CNOT1, a Central Component of the CCR4-NOT Complex Involved in Gene Expression and RNA and Protein Stability, Cause Neurodevelopmental Delay.
Vissers LELM, Kalvakuri S, de Boer E, Geuer S, Oud M, van Outersterp I, Kwint M, Witmond M, Kersten S, Polla DL, Weijers D, Begtrup A, McWalter K, Ruiz A, Gabau E, Morton JEV, Griffith C, Weiss K, Gamble C, Bartley J, Vernon HJ, Brunet K, Ruivenkamp C, Kant SG, Kruszka P, Larson A, Afenjar A, Billette de Villemeur T, Nugent K, DDD Study., Raymond FL, Venselaar H, Demurger F, Soler-Alfonso C, Li D, Bhoj E, Hayes I, Hamilton NP, Ahmad A, Fisher R, van den Born M, Willems M, Sorlin A, Delanne J, Moutton S, Christophe P, Mau-Them FT, Vitobello A, Goel H, Massingham L, Phornphutkul C, Schwab J, Keren B, Charles P, Vreeburg M, De Simone L, Hoganson G, Iascone M, Milani D, Evenepoel L, Revencu N, Ward DI, Burns K, Krantz I, Raible SE, Murrell JR, Wood K, Cho MT, van Bokhoven H, Muenke M, Kleefstra T, Bodmer R, de Brouwer APM
Am J Hum Genet 2020 Jul 2 ;107(1):164-172
Dietary Emulsifier Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate Alters Gut Microbiota in vitro and Inhibits Bacterial Butyrate Producers.
Elmén L, Zlamal JE, Scott DA, Lee RB, Chen DJ, Colas AR, Rodionov DA, Peterson SN
Front Microbiol 2020 ;11:892
Overexpression of Kif1A in the Developing Drosophila Heart Causes Valvar and Contractility Defects: Implications for Human Congenital Heart Disease.
Akasaka T, Ocorr K, Lin L, Vogler G, Bodmer R, Grossfeld P
J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2020 Jun 2 ;7(2)
Silencing of CCR4-NOT complex subunits affect heart structure and function.
Elmén L, Volpato CB, Kervadec A, Pineda S, Kalvakuri S, Alayari NN, Foco L, Pramstaller PP, Ocorr K, Rossini A, Cammarato A, Colas AR, Hicks AA, Bodmer R
Dis Model Mech 2020 May 29 ;
Unbiased Profiling of the Human Proinsulin Biosynthetic Interaction Network Reveals a Role For Peroxiredoxin 4 in Proinsulin Folding.
Tran DT, Pottekat A, Mir SA, Loguercio S, Jang I, Campos AR, Scully KM, Lahmy R, Liu M, Arvan P, Balch WE, Kaufman RJ, Itkin-Ansari P
Diabetes 2020 May 26 ;