Research

Overview

We are asking how transcriptional mechanisms that involve transcription factors/cofactors, distinct epigenetic marks, and other chromatin-associated factors regulate chromatin structure and thereby regulate gene expression during mammalian development.

AREAS OF RESEARCH IN PAUL LABORATORY
One of our research interests is to define molecular processes that control the genesis of early cell lineages, their self-renewal, differentiation, and function. The first lineage decision during mammalian development is the establishment of Trophectoderm (TE) and and inner cell mass (ICM) lineages. These differentiation events begin during pre-implanation development when blastomeres are fated towards TE and ICM. TE develops into parts of the placenta, while the ICM forms embryonic and some extra-embryonic structures. To understand this early lineage commitment, we are using embryonic stem (ES) and trophoblast stem (TS) cells as model system. We are also studying molecular mechanisms that control development of trophoblast lineage in postimplantation embryos. We are using transgenic mouse models as well human TSCs and human placentas to test our hypotheses.

Another area of our research interest is to dissect mechanisms to understand the molecular regulation of blood and blood vessel formation (Hematopoiesis and Angiogenesis).