The School of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

We are interested in understanding the biochemistry, physiology, and molecular biology of nuclear hormone (estrogen, progesterone) receptors, intracellular proteins that mediate the biological actions of these hormones in target cells, and the mechanisms by which these proteins regulate gene expression and the growth and functioning of target cells, especially cells of the reproductive system and mammary gland, and of tumors that develop in these tissues. Our studies focus on the characterization of these receptors and their coregulator protein partners; the interaction of receptor agonist versus antagonist ligand complexes with hormone-regulated genes; the interrelationships among hormones, growth factors, and various signal transduction pathways in the regulation of cell proliferation; and the mechanisms by which antihormones (antiestrogens and antiprogestins) antagonize hormone-dependent gene transcription and cell growth. We are doing extensive microarray analyses in the profiling of gene expression, and are examining the bidirectional cross-talk between nuclear hormone receptors and cell signal transduction pathways. Our studies involve detailed biochemical and structure-function analyses of the receptors and their gene interactions, and examination of their biological activities in normal and cancer cells.