Gene & Protein Expression

Berghuis, Albert M., Professor and Chair
albert.berghuis [at] mcgill.ca
Structural biological studies of proteins, particularly bacterial enzymes responsible for antibiotic resistance and enzymes that can be exploited as novel targets for antibiotics and antimycotics. Furthermore, efforts are ongoing to exploit the three-dimensional structural information obtained for the structure-based design of novel antimicrobial agents, using computational methods.

Bouchard, Maxime, Professor
maxime.bouchard [at] mcgill.ca
Molecular mechanisms of urogenital system development and tumor formation. Role of transcription factors and cell signaling in tissue morphogenesis, tubulogenesis and cell survival. Mouse models of renal and prostate cancer.

Natasha Chang, Assistant Professor
natasha.chang [at] mcgill.ca
The focus of the Chang lab is to elucidate the molecular pathways that regulate stem cell function. We employ muscle stem cells as a model to study stem cell biology and tissue regeneration. Dysregulation of the pathways that control muscle stem cell function contribute to muscle degeneration and disease. We investigate how stem cell function is impaired in muscle degenerative disease and cancer in order to gain insight into mechanisms of disease and develop novel regenerative medicine strategies.

Dostie, Josee, Professor
josee.dostie [at] mcgill.ca
The Dostie lab is working towards defining how the human genome is organized in three-dimensions, and identifying mechanisms that regulate spatial chromatin organization. We are applying genomics and molecular biology approaches to understand how genome folding impinges on gene expression in normal and diseased tissues such as in cancers.

Duchaine, Thomas, Professor
thomas.duchaine [at] mcgill.ca
RNAi is the process through which small non-coding RNAs direct a diverse set of gene-silencing processes. My group is interested in the underlying mechanisms, and their implications in development and cancer. Through a combination of genetics, cell biology, biochemistry and proteomics and using the nematode C. elegans, we examine the molecular machines involved in RNAi, and decipher how they orchestrate gene silencing. Currently, my group focuses on two distinct ‘branches’ of the RNAi processes: endoRNAi and microRNA-mediated silencing. First, we examine a phenomenon termed endogenous RNAi (endoRNA) which is naturally initiated on certain messenger RNAs, and results in the shutdown of the gene's expression. We are particularly interested in the functional interactions between endoRNAi and chromatin, the physiological scaffold of the genome. Second, we are interested in how microRNA-mediated gene silencing touches upon genetic programs in the developing embryo, and in cancer cells. Our findings have implications for the understanding of gene networks in all animals, including humans.

Gallouzi, Imed, Professor
imed.gallouzi [at] mcgill.ca
Our general research area is mRNA metabolism during the cell cycle and cell differentiation. We use the tools of molecular and cell biology to study problems in this field. The long-term research goals focus on understanding the cellular mechanisms involved in the regulation of mRNA half-lives and how they affect cell growth and differentiation.

Giguère, Vincent, Professor
vincent.giguere [at] mcgill.ca
Studies on the functions and roles of members of the estrogen receptor subfamily in breast cancer. Identification of genes regulated by these receptors using functional genomics; analysis of the roles of these receptors and their natural and synthetic ligands using transgenic and knock-out mice.

Gros, Philippe, Professor
philippe.gros [at] mcgill.ca
Our laboratory uses a genetic approach in mouse to discover genes, proteins and pathways that play an important role in complex human diseases. Our long-term objectives are to translate knowledge obtained in laboratory mouse models, into clinical outcomes through the creation of novel diagnostic tools or new small molecules modulators with therapeutic value in the corresponding human disease. We are currently focusing on three major human diseases known to have clear genetic component: infectious diseases, cancer, and the birth defect spina bifida. Our genetic platform is based on the use of genetically diverse mouse inbred strains, recombinant congenic strains, and experimentally induced mutagenized mouse stocks (ENU mutants).

Guarne, Alba, Professor
alba.guarne [at] mcgill.ca
Our goal is to understand how proteins determine the fate of DNA during chromosome replication and repair. In particular, how regulatory proteins orchestrate the stabilization of damaged replication forks with DNA repair and forks restart. Since most of the proteins that regulate these processes lack a measurable enzymatic activity, our efforts are aimed at seeing how they work using a broad range of structural biology techniques. We then combine structural information with biochemical and genetic analysis to elucidate their functions at a molecular level.

Huang, Sidong, Associate Professor
sidong.huang [at] mcgill.ca
Our laboratory uses functional genomic tools to study cancer-relevant pathways and to guide targeted cancer therapy. We aim to identify novel genes and networks that modulate response to cancer drugs, and to uncover genetic dependencies between the major signaling pathways in cancer that can be exploited therapeutically.

Kazak, Lawrence, Assistant Professor
lawrence.kazak [at] mcgill.ca
The Kazak lab combines mouse genetics, mass spectrometry, molecular and cell biology, biochemistry and bioenergetics to study the molecular control of mammalian energy metabolism. Our efforts are concentrated on the molecules and metabolic pathways that control mitochondrial energetics in adipocytes and cancer cells. We have generated novel genetically-engineered mouse models to accurately study cellular metabolism, in vivo. In the case of adipose tissue, we systematically examine mechanisms supporting adipocyte energy expenditure, which has tremendous promise for combating obesity. In the case of cancer, we are leveraging our expertise of mitochondrial biology and cellular energetics to explore novel metabolic pathways that are critical for tumorigenesis.

McInnes, Roderick, Professor
roderick.mcinnes [at] mcgill.ca
Our lab is interested in two major questions in biology and medicine. First, in inherited neurodegenerations, we wish to understand what is happening in the mutant neurons, in the years to decades between their birth and their death years to decades later. After decades of normal function, why do the neurons suddenly die? To address this question, we are identifying molecular mechanisms that contribute to, or protect against the death of mutant photoreceptors (PRs) in inherited photoreceptor degenerations (IPDs) using mouse models of these diseases. Understanding of these mechanisms is likely to suggest therapeutic opportunities that will slow or arrest PR death. Second, we wish to understand the roles of “accessory” proteins in the regulation of ion channels in neurons, particularly at synapses. Our focus is on two such proteins that we discovered, Neto1 and Neto2. The Neto proteins are multifunctional, as indicated by their loss-of-function phenotypes, which include defects in axon guidance, seizures in some genetic backgrounds, defects in memory and learning, and abnormal regulation of neuronal excitability. To date, we have identified at least 5 ion channels or other neuronal proteins whose activity is or appears to be regulated by a Neto. Elucidation of the role of the Netos in the brain is increasing our understanding of a surprisingly broad range of fundamental neuronal processes.

Nepveu, Alain, Professor
alain.nepveu [at] mcgill.ca
Transcriptional regulation in normal and cancer cells (expression profiling, genome-wide location arrays (ChIP-chip)). Post-translational regulation by cyclin-dependent kinases during cell cycle progression, and by checkpoint kinases following DNA damage. The spindle assembly checkpoint and the control of genomic instability. Spontaneous and induced point mutations. Transgenic mouse models of breast cancer: a model for the basal-like group of breast cancers and transcriptional regulation of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway.

Park, Morag, Professor
morag.park [at] mcgill.ca
Deregulation of receptor tyrosine kinases is a common event in the development and progression of human cancers. We propose to examine the signals regulated by receptor tyrosine kinases that promote cell transformation, tumor formation and metastatic spread of tumors with a focus on breast cancer.

Pastor, William, Assistant Professor
william.pastor [at] mcgill.ca
Our laboratory uses stem-cell based models to study transcriptional and epigenetic control in early human development.

Pause, Arnim, Professor
arnim.pause [at] mcgill.ca
(1) Molecular characterization of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene pathway, identification of new targets of the VHL ubiquitin ligase, mechanism of tumorigenesis in VHL tumors (renal cell carcinoma) and C.elegans, development of animal models of kidney cancer (mice and C.elegans). (2) Functional characterization of the Birt-Hogge-Dube (BHD) tumor suppressor protein in kidney cancer and in cellular and whole animal metabolism (mice and C.elegans). (3) Functional characterization of a tyrosine phosphatase involved in tumor suppression, studies in cellular and animal models.

Pelletier, Jerry, Professor
jerry.pelletier [at] mcgill.ca
Chemical Biology Approach to Study Regulation of Eukaryotic Translation — Chemical Biology Approach to Interdict miRNA—mediated Repression — Targeting Translation Initiation in Cancer as a Therapeutic Avenue — Use of Mechanism Based Mouse Models to Study Response to Chemotherapy — Biology of RNA Helicases.

Sagan, Selena, Associate Professor
selena.sagan [at] mcgill.ca
The Sagan Lab explores the role of (mi)RNA at the host-virus interface, particularly in the life cycles of positive-sense RNA viruses of the Flaviviridae family. Our expertise is in RNA biology and virology, and our research program focuses on host-virus interactions, (mi)RNA biology and the molecular mechanisms underlying regulation of viral RNA accumulation, pathogenesis, and innate immune responses. Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Dengue virus (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) represent a significant threat to global health; and, as positive-sense RNA viruses, their viral genome itself must serve as a template for translation, replication and packaging. However, how viruses coordinate and regulate these activities remains a mystery. We use state-of-the-art approaches to study RNA-RNA and protein-RNA interactions important to the life cycles of these viruses. We aim to understand: Which regions of the genome mediate these events? How are these events regulated? What host/viral factors are involved? How can we interfere with these processes? What can this teach us about cellular RNA regulation? This research will further our understanding of viral RNA accumulation and provide new avenues for antiviral intervention for these important human pathogens.

Schmeing, Martin, Professor
martin.schmeing [at] mcgill.ca
The Schmeing lab combines X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy and biochemical techniques to study large macromolecular machines that perform important cellular processes. Of particular interest is the ribosome, which synthesizes all proteins, and nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) a class of megaenzymes which produce a large variety of small molecules with important and diverse biological activity. For example, NRPSs synthesize anti-fungals, anti-bacterials, anti-virals, anti-tumourigenics, and immunosuppressants including well-known compounds such as penicillin and cyclosporin.

Sonenberg, Nahum, Professor
nahum.sonenberg [at] mcgill.ca
Control of translation in eukaryotes; translational control cancer, obesity and neurodegenerative diseases; translational control of learning and memory; ‘knock-out’ mice in translation initiation factors.

Tremblay, Michel L., Professor
michel.tremblay [at] mcgill.ca
In vitro and in vivo characterization of protein tyrosine phosphatases in the mouse. Generation of PTPase mouse models using homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells and transgenic technology.

Vera Ugalde, Maria, Assistant Professor
maria.vera [at] einstein.yu.edu
Survival of cells to adverse conditions depends on the proper execution of the stress response. We use single-cell and single-molecule fluorescence molecule approaches to study the life-cycle of stress regulated mRNAs and therapeutically manipulate it to treat age-related diseases.

Watson, Ian, Associate Professor
ian.watson2 [at] mcgill.ca
My lab is interested in understanding the biological function and therapeutic relevance of novel significantly mutated genes discovered in our melanoma genome- and exome-sequencing studies by employing computational approaches, in vivo models and biochemical techniques studying patient samples, cell lines and genetically engineered mice.