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Theme - Embryonic Development & Cancer |
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An outstanding group of embryologists and gene expression researchers examine the early mechanisms of cell movement, proliferation, organ formation, gene regulation and initial tumor formation in mammalian embryos.
Normal embryonic development requires a fine regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and apoptosis. During embryo development, cellular interactions trigger specific events to occur. These cell behaviors are also the ones that are deregulated during tumor formation and metastasis. Key regulators are also known to act as tumor suppressors or tumor-promoting factors.
By understanding more about the mechanisms occurring during embryonic and postnatal development, more can be understood about the molecular mechanisms underlying developmental diseases and cancer.
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The research group focuses on the genetic and epigenetic determinants of embryonic and postnatal development, as well as tissue homeostasis, to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying developmental diseases and cancer. The team has focused on the:
• Effect of epigenetic modifications on gene regulation and embryo development
• Role of microRNAs in mRNA polyadenylation and stability
• Transcriptional control of cell proliferation and genomic integrity
• Signaling and transcriptional networks driving cell lineage specification, cell polarity, organ morphogenesis and aging
Experimental approaches applied involve; biochemical methods; cell-based assays and genetic manipulations in multiple biological systems, including model organisms like the mouse and Caenorhabditis elegans; clinical samples; primary culture cells and transformed cell lines established from tumor samples.
The team:
Dr. Maxime Bouchard
Dr. Thomas Duchaine
Dr. Alain Nepveu
Dr. Yojiro Yamanaka
Dr. Xiang Jiao Yang
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