Michael Knudson, MD, PhD
Research Laboratory
Contact Information
Phone: 319-335-7630
1132 Medical Laboratories
Molecular Regulation of Programmed Cell Death and Oncogenesis
My lab is interested in the regulation of apoptosis and cancer by the
Bcl-2 family of proteins. The Bcl-2 family members are central
regulators of cell death as they can block or delay apoptosis after
nearly all apoptotic stimuli. The Bcl-2 family contains homologous
members that have both anti-apoptotic (e.g. Bcl-2, Bcl-x) as well as
pro-apoptotic (e.g. Bax, Bak) activity. I have used both transgenic and
knockout models to study the regulation of cell death by Bax. The
laboratory is also focused on the role for Bax in oncogenesis and
hematopoiesis. Of particular interest are recent data supporting an
important role for Bax in increasing oxidative stress, chromosome
instability and contributing to oncogenesis. One important goal of the
lab is to identify the molecular mechanism by which both Bcl-2 and Bax
regulate cellular proliferation and contribute to oncogenesis. More
recently, the lab has initiated studies examining the role of mitophagy
in general and Beclin and Parkin specifically in the formation and the
development of cancer.
(See complete publications list at PubMed)
Research Staff
Sean Martin, BA
sean-martin@uiowa.edu
Research Associate
1132 ML
319-335-7630