Einstein Faculty

Academic Honors

Exploring How Metabolism Locally Controls Gene Expression—A team of Einstein researchers led by Robert Coleman, Ph.D., Vladislav Verkhusha, Ph.D., and Louis Hodgson, Ph.D., have received a $500,000 two-year grant from the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative. The grant supports their efforts to develop tools for studying how metabolism locally controls gene expression. The scientists hypothesize that metabolites produced locally in the nucleus may regulate gene transcription by reorganizing chromatin (the DNA-protein complex that makes up chromosomes) so that certain genes become accessible and able to be transcribed. The approaches they propose—optogenetic tools and metabolite biosensors—would identify in real time whether local metabolite production in the nucleus causes changes in gene expression. Their research could yield insights into a broad range of areas including circadian rhythms, aging, diabetes, and chronic inflammation. Dr. Coleman is associate professor of cell biology, Dr. Verkhusha is professor of genetics, and Dr. Hodgson is professor of molecular pharmacology. In addition, Dr. Verkhusha is co-director, and Drs. Coleman and Hodgson are members, of the Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center.

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