Biochemistry Graduate Program

Dr. Hollenhorst’s research focuses on the mechanisms that allow genome sequence to dictate the transcriptional control of gene expression. A major goal of our laboratory is to understand how specificity is achieved in “families” of transcription factors that have homologous DNA binding domains. In particular we focus on the ETS family of oncogenic transcription factors. Chromosomal abnormalities involving ETS transcription factors are found in prostate cancer, Ewing’s sarcoma, and leukemia. Therefore it is critical to understand how some family members, but not others, promote cancer so that specific therapeutics can be developed. We use a wide variety of approaches ranging from biochemistry to genomics to study the interaction of ETS proteins with the genome and to determine the role these mechanisms play in carcinogenesis.