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The Laboratory of Molecular Biology uses genetics,
molecular biology, cell biology, and molecular modeling to examine and solve a broad
range of important biological problems. One major program is directed at designing,
producing, and testing new drugs to treat cancer. These drugs are genetically modified
forms of Pseudomonas exotoxin A that are targeted to cancer cells by Fv fragments
of antibodies. Three recombinant immunotoxins that have been developed in the laboratory
are now in clinical trials, and other agents are in preclinical development. Design
of these molecules is greatly aided by molecular modeling. The laboratory also investigates
gene therapy of cancer and metabolic disorders, and gene regulation at the level
of transcription initiation and elongation by regulatory proteins like repressors,activators,
terminators, and antiterminators. Other programs investigate the mechanisms that
control cell growth and cell division by unstable proteins as well as the mechanism
of DNA replication. Transgenic mice are used to understand how inappropriate expression
of oncogenes affects animal development. At the most basic level, the stability of
protein molecules and the mechanism of protein folding are investigated by molecular
modeling, computer simulation,and other theoretical techniques.
The Laboratory of Molecular Biology is divided into the following sections:
Biochemical Genetics Section Susan Gottesman,
Chief
Biotherapy Section David FitzGerald,
Chief
Clinical Immunotherapy Section Robert J. Kreitman,
Chief
Developmental Genetics Section Sankar Adhya,
Chief Ding Jun Jin, Investigator
DNA Molecular Biology Section Sue Wickner,
Chief
Gene Regulation Section Sheue-yann Cheng,
Chief
Genetics Section Susan Garges,
Chief
Molecular Biology Section Ira Pastan, Chief
Alfred C. Johnson,
Investigator
Molecular Genetics Section Glenn Merlino,
Chief Chamelli Jhappan,
Chemist
Molecular Modeling Section B. K. Lee, Chief
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