Project X3. Transcriptional and metabolic reprogramming in response to physiochemical stimuli

A living cell responds and adapts to physiochemical changes by altering its transcriptional and its metabolic programs. When a physiochemical change is acute, the alterations in those cellular programs help to restore cellular homeostasis. However, in conditions of chronic physiochemical changes such as a gene mutation or chronic exposure to environmental pollutants, the resulting cellular reprogramming can adversely affect cellular behavior and cause permanent cellular reprogramming. We are interested in identifying the mechanisms by which chronic physiochemical changes mediate permanent cellular reprogramming. By applying massive parallel sequencing (also known as the next-generation sequencing), we can identify changes at the genetic and epigenetic levels that are inflicted by a specific chronic physiochemical insult. Computational and in vitro cellular modeling will allow us to identify the mechanisms by which permanent reprogramming occurs.