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Randall N. Pittman, Ph.D.

Click here for selected publications since Dr. Pittman's arrival at Penn

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Polyglutamine repeat neurodegenerative diseases and cell signaling in the execution phase of apoptosis

RESEARCH TECHNIQUES

Cellular and animal models, imaging, and reconstituted cellular and biochemical systems

RESEARCH SUMMARY

Cellular and molecular approaches are used to study the normal and pathological functions of the polyglutamine neurodegenerative disease protein, ataxin-3, and signaling pathways controlling the execution stage of apoptosis. Apoptosis experiments focus on understanding regulation of execution events by Rho kinase signaling pathways with particular emphasis on dynamic membrane blebbing, cell fragmentation, and cellular processes that prepare cells for phagocytosis. Studies on the polyglutamine disease protein, ataxin-3, focus on understanding its normal cellular functions as a deubiquitylating enzyme and how this may be related to its pathology in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/ Machado-Joseph disease. Ongoing projects are investigating the role of ataxin-3 in the ubiquitin proteasome pathway, interaction with DNA repair proteins, and neuronal transport mechanisms. Ataxin-3 is the first member of a new family of deubiquitylating enzymes and we are currently characterizing cellular and biochemical properties of other members of this new family of enzymes.

KEY WORDS:

Pittman Lab