September 2014 Meeting Announcement, Delaware Valley Mass Spectrometry Discussion Group
PLEASE NOTE: We will meet in Mendel 101.
- Topic: "Quantitative Proteomics for Understanding the Histone Code"
- Speaker: Benjamin A. Garcia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
- Date: Monday, September 8, 2014. 6:00 PM
- Time: Social Hour: 6:00 PM.
Talk: 7:00 PM.
Please RSVP to John Masucci JMasucci@its.jnj.com by Thursday September 4.
- Place: Department of Chemistry, Villanova University (Room 101, Mendel Hall)
- Directions:
- Abstract: Histones are small proteins that package DNA into chromosomes, and a large number of studies have showed that several single post-translational modification sites on the histones are associated with both gene activation and silencing. Nevertheless, what type of effect distinct combinations of simultaneously occurring histone modifications (Histone Codes or patterns) have upon cellular events is poorly understood. The main reason for this lack of knowledge is that robust high-throughput methods for quantitative characterization or even qualitative identification of combinatorial Histone Codes by any standard biological, immunological or physical technique do not exist. We plan to specifically address this deficiency by developing novel mass spectrometry based proteomic methods and accompanying bioinformatics to quantitatively characterize molecular level descriptions of combinatorial Histone Codes, and apply these methods to study how these dynamic Histone Codes influence gene expression under different biological conditions. Here we present data that describes: (i) high-throughput comparison of histone modifications from multiple cellular states, especially stem cell pluripotency and cancer (ii) developing mass spectrometry methods for quantitative tracking of combinatorial Histone Codes (iii) monitoring in vivo Histone Code dynamics, and (iv) investigating the role of Histone Code interpreting proteins in recognizing distinct Histone Codes. Ultimately, we will work towards the goal of taking any defined part of the genome and accurately quantifying the Histone Codes, detecting all the non-histone proteins that reside on these distinct pieces of chromatin, and then mapping this proteomic data back to specific genomic locations, therefore taking a proteomic snapshot of what that chromosome landscape looks like during any nuclear event. These studies in combination with biological experiments will help provide a systems biology outlook on gene expression that will lay down the basic scientific foundation to advance several applications, such as stem cell reprogramming and cancer progression.
- Bio:
Dr. Benjamin Aaron Garcia is currently a Presidential Associate Professor at the departments of Biochemistry and Biophysics in University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. Dr. Garcia is also a faculty member and the director of Quantitative Proteomics with the Epigenetics Program at UPenn. Ben's research goals are to develop analytical methodologies including mass spectrometry based proteomic approaches for the analysis of protein post-translational modifications. More specifically, his lab is working towards generating methods for the high-throughput and quantitative analysis of epigenetic histone post-translational modifications (PTMs). He's particularly interested in understanding the epigenetic roles of histone PTMs during cellular differentiation and reprogramming, and cancer pathogenesis.
Ben received a Bachelor in Chemistry at UC Davis in 2000, and a PhD in Chemistry in 2005 at University of Virginia under Dr. Donald F. Hunt. He then went through his NIH NRSA Postdoctoral Fellow from 2006 to 2008. Prior to joining Penn, he was an assistant professor of molecular biology at Princeton University from 2008-2012. He has authored/co-authored 122 peer reviewed scientific publications and holds 1 patent. He has received numerous awards, the most recent ones in 2014 are ACS Arthur F. Findeis Award and Pittcon Achievement Award. He is also very active in serving in professional organizations. He is a member the board of directors for
the US Human Proteome Organization (HUPO), editor of Molecular and Cellular Proteomics Journal, the BMC Genomics Journal, Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, and review panel committee member of a number of NIH and NSF programs and grants.
Please send any comments, corrections, or suggestions to
svanbram@science.widener.edu.
This page has been accessed
times since 9/15 /96 .
Last Updated 02/19/2014