We combine genetic, molecular, biochemical, genomic, and evolutionary approaches to study the mechanistic relationship between chromatin structure and transcriptional regulation and its implications for epigenetic inheritance of heterochromatin. In addition, we combine functional genomic and mechanistic approaches to elucidate the transcriptional regulatory circuits involved in the process of cellular transformation and formation of cancer stem cells, and the use of metformin as an anti-cancer drug in combination with chemotherapy.

Research:
Transcriptional regulation in response to environmental and developmental cues is mediated by the combinatorial and synergistic action of specific DNA-binding activators and repressors on components of the general transcription machinery and chromatin modifying activities, and it also involves microRNAs. We combine genetic, molecular, genomic, and evolutionary approaches to address fundamental questions about transcriptional regulatory mechanisms, mRNA stability, and 3’ end formation in yeast, as well as elucidating the transcriptional regulatory circuits that mediate the process of cellular transformation and formation of cancer stem cells.