Description of Research Expertise

Research Interests
- Role of adapter proteins in immune cell development and function
- Signals leading to T cell activation and termination of T cell responses
- In vitro and in vivo function of mast cells and neutrophils

Key words: signal transduction, adapter proteins, SLP-76, DGK-zeta, T-cell activation, TCR signaling.

Description of Research
Our laboratory studies the regulation of signaling events that lead to hematopoietic cell development and function. We make extensive use of genetically altered mice for these studies. To date, we have identified three novel adapter proteins and have made mice deficient in each of these molecules. We have also investigated the role of enzymes by targeted gene deletion. Collectively these studies have provided new insights into how these proteins serve as regulators of multiple lineages in the hematopoietic system.

Rotation Projects
Studies of the molecular and biochemical role of adapter proteins in hematopoietic cell development and growth.

Lab personnel:
Rebecca Slota-May (Graduate Student)
Jennifer Smith-Garvin, DVM (Graduate Student)
Tao Zou (Graduate Student)

Edward Behrens, MD (Assistant Professor of Pediatrics)
Alyssa Johnsen, MD, PhD (Instructor)
Martha Jordan, PhD (Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)
Kim Nichols, MD (Associate Professor of Pediatrics)
Mathew Riese, MD, PhD (Fellow)

Aurada Cholapranee (Research Specialist)
Mercy Gohil (Laboratory Manager)
Peng Guan (Research Specialist)
Chris Prieto (Research Specialist)