Gerd A. Blobel, MD, PhD
Professor of Pediatrics
Department: Pediatrics
Graduate Group Affiliations
Contact information
316H Abramson Research Center
3615 Civic Center Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
3615 Civic Center Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Office: (215) 590-3988
Fax: (215) 590-4834
Fax: (215) 590-4834
Email:
BLOBEL@EMAIL.CHOP.EDU
BLOBEL@EMAIL.CHOP.EDU
Publications
Links
Search PubMed for articles
Cell and Molecular Biology graduate group faculty webpage.
Pharmacological Sciences graduate group faculty webpage.
Search PubMed for articles
Cell and Molecular Biology graduate group faculty webpage.
Pharmacological Sciences graduate group faculty webpage.
Education:
M.D.
Ruprecht-Karls University, Heidelberg, Germany, 1986.
Ph.D. (Molecular Oncology)
Rockefeller University, 1991.
Permanent linkM.D.
Ruprecht-Karls University, Heidelberg, Germany, 1986.
Ph.D. (Molecular Oncology)
Rockefeller University, 1991.
Description of Research Expertise
Research Interestshematopoiesis, higher order chromatin structure, gene expression, transcription factors
Description of Research
Our lab focuses on the transcriptional control of hematopoiesis and its disorders. Specifically, we study how tissue-specific transcription factors govern the specification and maintenance of hematopoietic cell lineages. We also examine how transcription programs are epigenetically transmitted through mitosis to maintain lineage identity. Our work is leading us deeply into the analysis of chromatin structure, its modifications and organization. For example, we investigate how regulatory elements are organized spatially using chromosome conformation capture technology. We are also interested in the control of transcription factors by posttranslational modifications. For our studies we combine molecular, genomic, biochemical and microscopic approaches with studies in normal and gene targeted mice.
Lab Rotation Projects for 2011-2012:
1) Regulation of higher order chromatin organization during gene activation and repression
2) The mechanism of gene regulation by the NuRD chromatin remodeling complex
3) Mechanisms of epigenetic bookmarking during mitosis
4) Lineage choice decisions by GATA-1, FOG-1 and Ets transcription factors during hematopoiesis
5) Molecular mechanisms of GATA-1 acetylation
Lab personnel:
Janine Lamonica, graduate student
Amy Campbell, graduate student
Rena Zheng, combined degree student
Wulan Deng, graduate student
Stephan Kadauke, combined degree student
Kiwon Lee, postdoctoral fellow
Maheshi Udugama, postdoctoral fellow
Jan Pawlicki, postdoctoral fellow
Jeremy Rupon, postdoctoral fellow
Hongxin Wang, technician/lab manager
Ariel Yang, technician
Natalie Daurio rotation student
Selected Publications
Lamonica Janine M, Deng Wulan, Kadauke Stephan, Campbell Amy E, Gamsjaeger Roland, Wang Hongxin, Cheng Yong, Billin Andrew N, Hardison Ross C, Mackay Joel P, Blobel Gerd A: PNAS Plus: Bromodomain protein Brd3 associates with acetylated GATA1 to promote its chromatin occupancy at erythroid target genes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 108(22): E159-68, May 2011.Gamsjaeger Roland, Webb Sarah R, Lamonica Janine M, Billin Andrew, Blobel Gerd A, Mackay Joel P: Structural Basis and Specificity of Acetylated Transcription Factor GATA1 Recognition by BET Family Bromodomain Protein Brd3. Molecular and cellular biology 31(13): 2632-40, Jul 2011.
Lejon Sara, Thong Sock Yue, Murthy Andal, AlQarni Saad, Murzina Natalia V, Blobel Gerd A, Laue Ernest D, Mackay Joel P: Insights into association of the NuRD complex with FOG-1 from the crystal structure of an RbAp48·FOG-1 complex. The Journal of biological chemistry 286(2): 1196-203, Jan 2011.
Miccio Annarita, Wang Yuhuan, Hong Wei, Gregory Gregory D, Wang Hongxin, Yu Xiang, Choi John K, Shelat Suresh, Tong Wei, Poncz Mortimer, Blobel Gerd A: NuRD mediates activating and repressive functions of GATA-1 and FOG-1 during blood development. The EMBO journal 29(2): 442-56, Jan 2010.
Wulan Deng, Gerd A. Blobel: Do chromatin loops provide epigenetic gene expression states? Current Opinion in Genetics and Development in press, Jun 2010.
Miccio Annarita, Blobel Gerd A: The role of the GATA-1/FOG-1/NuRD pathway in the expression of human {beta}-like globin genes. Molecular and cellular biology May 2010.
Gregory Gregory D, Miccio Annarita, Bersenev Alexey, Wang Yuhuan, Hong Wei, Zhang Zhe, Poncz Mortimer, Tong Wei, Blobel Gerd A: FOG1 requires NuRD to promote hematopoiesis and maintain lineage fidelity within the megakaryocytic-erythroid compartment. Blood 115(11): 2156-66, Mar 2010.
Blobel Gerd A, Kadauke Stephan, Wang Eric, Lau Alan W, Zuber Johannes, Chou Margaret M, Vakoc Christopher R: A reconfigured pattern of MLL occupancy within mitotic chromatin promotes rapid transcriptional reactivation following mitotic exit. Molecular Cell 36(6): 970-83, Dec 2009.
Tripic Tamara, Deng Wulan, Cheng Yong, Zhang Ying, Vakoc Christopher R, Gregory Gregory D, Hardison Ross C, Blobel Gerd A: SCL and associated proteins distinguish active from repressive GATA transcription factor complexes. Blood 113(10): 2191-201, Mar 2009.
Jing Huie, Vakoc Christopher R, Ying Lei, Mandat Sean, Wang Hongxin, Zheng Xingwu, Blobel Gerd A: Exchange of GATA factors mediates transitions in looped chromatin organization at a developmentally regulated gene locus. Molecular Cell 29(2): 232-42, Feb 2008.