UIC Department of Pharmacology: Faculty Research

Our laboratory is focused on characterization of mammalian components of the Drosophila dREAM (drosophila RB, E2F and Myb) complex, with an emphasis on Mip/LIN-9. Mammalian Mip/LIN-9 functions as a repressor during G1, and as an activator in conjunction with B-Myb during S-phase. In late G1/S, Mip/LIN-9 interacts with B-Myb and positively regulates the transcription of S and G2/M genes such as cyclin A, cyclin B and CDK1. Therefore, Mip/LIN-9 is a critical component in the regulation of the cell cycle progression in normal, and potentially in tumor cells. One of our objectives is to determine if down-regulation of Mip/LIN-9 by siRNA or drugs could lead to cell cycle arrest or senescence in tumor cells.

Oscar Colamonici, MD

Associate Professor of Pharmacology