Michael D. Cole, Ph.D.

Research

We focus on the molecular basis of cancer and oncogenic transcription factors. We study the genetic events involved in the induction of cancer provide an opportunity to define the molecular basis of the disease and to study the regulation and function of important eukaryotic genes that control cell proliferation. The c-myc gene encodes a transcription factor that is critical for progression through the cell cycle, and mutations that misregulate c-myc are frequently found in human and animal cancers. We are interested in defining the cellular target genes through which c-myc acts and also the nuclear factors that mediate target gene regulation. Our interests include a new mechanism of Myc-dependent gene regulation: control of mRNA cap methylation through Pol II CTD phosphorylation; novel domains of the Myc transcription factor; the mechanism of Myc-mediated Repression; the ATM-related protein TRRAP; functional studies of the TIP49/TIP48/actin-related protein complex, and the role of putative Myc-target genes in mediating cell proliferation.