We are studying mouse eye as a model system to elucidate molecular mechanisms of embryonic development, cellular differentiation, and aging. We are particularly interested in the genes that control embryonic lens differentiation. We seek to identify and characterize the complet set of genetic and epigenetic instructions that control mammalian lens development. We are studying DNA-binding transcription factors, including Pax6, c-Maf, Hsf4 and Gata3, BMP and FGF signaling, chromatin remodeling (CBP, p300, Brg1 and Snf2h), and chromatin structure (linker histone H1 variants) and their role in lens induction and differentiation. We are also studying the biology of lens fiber cell nuclei as transcriptional factories for crystallin gene synthesis and the processes that govern their controlled degradation in terminally differentiated lens fiber cells.
