Student Profiles - 2002

Alexandra Amaro
Huffaker Lab
BMCB Field (entered program fall 2002)

From: San Diego, CA
Undergraduate: University of Notre Dame. BS (Biological Sciences) in 2002

Statement

The highly collaborative environment at Cornell was one of the main reasons I decided to join the BMCB program. Many labs work in similar areas, which allows the labs to hold joint journal clubs, discuss problems, and troubleshoot protocols. Its great to have the entire building as a resource whenever you have a question because chances are someone is willing and able to help. Everyone in the department is very supportive and friendly, which makes for a great working environment.

Research

The formation and stability of the mitotic spindle during the cell cycle is critical for proper segregation of chromosomes. The bipolar spindle is composed of microtubules and associated proteins. Using the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, I am interested in understanding the role of the essential microtubule-associated protein Stu1 in assembly and maintenance of the mitotic spindle. Stu1 is a member of a family of proteins conserved from yeast to humans that localizes to the spindle and binds microtubules. Loss of Stu1 results in a compromised collapsed spindle. I am currently investigating if Stu1 maintains spindle integrity by modulating microtubule dynamics.

Awards

NIH Pre-doctoral Fellowship 2005

Outreach

Expanding Your Horizons Publicity/Brochure Chair (2005-2008)

Publication

• Amaro IA, Costanzo M, Boone C, Huffaker TC. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae homolog of p24 is essential for maintaining the association of p150Glued with the dynactin complex. Genetics. 2008 Feb;178(2):703-9. Epub 2008 Feb 1.
  

Conference

• American Society for Cell Biology. December 2006. Ldb18 is a component of the dynactin complex in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (poster)
  
• Northeast Regional Yeast Meeting. April 2007. LDB18 is a Component of the Dynactin Complex in Saccharomyces (Oral presentation)
  
• Vincent du Vigneaud Memorial Symposium. May 2007. LDB18 is a Component of the Dynactin Complex in Saccharomyces (poster)
• Northeast Regional Yeast Meeting. June 2009. The microtubule-binding protein Stu1 acts at kinetochores to stabilize the metaphase mitotic spindle. (Poster presentation)
  

Gary Isaacs
Kraus Lab
BMCB Field (entered program fall 2002).

From: Delaware
Undergraduate: Liberty University, BS (Premed) in 1999
GRADUATED January 2009, presently Assistant Professor at Liberty University, Lynchburg VA.

Statement

The BMCB field in the Molecular Biology and Genetics Department was the reason I chose to come to Cornell. With past experience as a high school science teacher, I knew I needed a broad foundation in biochemistry and molecular biology in order to meet the challenges of teaching science in the future. Since the program contains professors from various fields of study, I quickly found the area of research that sparked my interest the most. To this day, collaborations and interactions within the MBG Department challenge my way of thinking about science and enable me to be a better teacher in the future.

Research

My research in the Kraus Lab is directed at understanding the mechanism by which AP-1 transcription factors activate transcription. I am particularly interested in how estrogen receptors cause an activation of certain AP-1 driven genes in a ligand-dependent manner. I am attempting to determine the proteins that compose these transcription complexes and determine their role in transcriptional activation.

Career Interest

Currently I am working towards a career in academia with the desire to teach courses in biology, biochemistry, and molecular biology full-time.

Awards:

2006-2009 Department of Defense Predoctoral Traineeship Award
2005-2006 Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Fellowship
2005-2006 Endocrine Society Travel Grant
2004-2005 The Chancellors List
2003-2004 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant

Abstracts

• Kininis M., Chen B. S., Diehl A. G., Isaacs G. D., Zhang T., Siepel A. C., Clark A. G., Kraus W. L. (2007) Genomic analyses of transcription factor binding, histone acetylation, and gene expression reveal mechanistically distinct classes of estrogen-regulated promoters. Mol. Cell. Biol. 27:5090-5104.
• Kininis M., Isaacs G. D., Core L. J., Hah N., Kraus W. L. (2009) Post-recruitment regulation of RNA polymerase II directs rapid signaling responses at the promoters of estrogen target genes. Mol. Cell. Biol. 29:1123-1133.

Oral Presentations

• Gary D. Isaacs. Integration of Nuclear and Cytoplasmic Signaling Pathways in the Estrogen-Dependent Control of Gene Expression (2007). Great Lakes Nuclear Receptor Conference, Pittsburg, PA. Audience: 100.
• Miltiadis Kininis, Gary D. Isaacs, and W. Lee Kraus (2007).  Post-Recruitment Regulation of RNA Polymerase II Activity at a Majority of Estrogen Target Genes. (Submitted)
• Gary D. Isaacs, Miltiadis Kininis, and W. Lee Kraus (2007).  The Promoter-Associated Distribution of JNK1 and Its Role in Mediating Transcriptional Responses. (In Preparation)
• Gary D. Isaacs, Nina Heldring, Jeffrey A. Ranish, and W. Lee Kraus (2008).  Tamoxifen-bound Estrogen Receptors can Alter the Composition of Activating Protein-1 Complexes to Mediate Transcriptional Activation. (In Preparation)

Publications

• Kininis M, Chen BS, Diehl AG, Isaacs GD, Zhang T, Siepel AC, Clark AG, Kraus WL. Genomic analyses of transcription factor binding, histone acetylation, and gene expression reveal mechanistically distinct classes of estrogen-regulated promoters. Mol Cell Biol. 2007 Jul;27(14):5090-104.