The primary focus of the laboratory is elucidation of the molecular basis of the action of Osteogenic Protein-1 (OP-1), which is a member of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family. BMPs are members of the TGF-β superfamily. OP-1 induces bone and cartilage formation in vivo and induces both chondroblastic and osteoblastic cell differentiation of osteoprogenitor cells in vitro. On-going projects include studies on the interactions between OP-1 and its receptors, and the effects of OP-1 on gene expression and regulation in a variety of cell types in the skeletal system.
Primary Structure of OP-1
A second focus of the laboratory is elucidation of the nature of RNA-protein interactions using a combination of experimental approaches, such as yeast genetic, biophysical and biochemical techniques.
