Ken W. ChoProfessor, Developmental & Cell Biology |
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Research Interests |
Growth factor signaling and functional genomics in Xenopus and zebrafish | |
| URL | darwin.bio.uci.edu/~cholab/ | |
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Academic Distinctions | Pew Scholar, American Cancer Society Award | |
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Research Abstract |
Recent work has revealed that many of the genes involved in growth control, once misregulated, can cause tumor development. We are particularly interested in two sets of genes, the TGF-b related and Wnt growth factors. These genes are required for proper development of embryonic body structures and the central nervous system. However, misregulation of these genes not only results in various forms of congenital malformations, but also promotes tumor development (e.g., mammary and colon tumors). While these growth factors play central roles during embryogenesis and tumorigenesis, we do not fully understand how they work. In particular, we have not yet identified all of the players (genes) involved in mediating the malformation. A major focus of my laboratory is to try to uncover these genes involved in the regulation of growth control and embryonic development. We believe that in the course of learning how these growth factors control normal development, and how their misregulation leads to particular malformations, we provide clues for the development of treatments for both congenital malformation and tumor development. |
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| Publications | Peiffer, D., Cho, K.W.Y., and Shin, Y. (2003). Xenopus DNA microarrays. Current Genomics. | |
| Blitz, I.L., Cho,K.W.Y., Chang,C. (2003). Twisted Gastrulation Loss-of-Function Analyses Reveal its Role as a BMP Inhibitor Involved in Dorsal Specification During Early Xenopus Embryogenesis, Development, 130:4975-4988 | ||
| Ring, C., Ogata, S., Meek, L., Song, J., Ohta, T., Miyazono, K., and Cho, K.W.Y. (2002) The role of a Williams-beuren syndrom-associcated helix-tloop-helix domain-containing transcription factor in activin/nodal signaling. Genes & Dev. 16:820-835 | ||
| Hashimoto, M., Yuge, M., Cho, K.W.Y. (2002). Nodal signaling in Xenopus gastrulae is cell autonomous and patterned by b-catenin. Dev Biol. 253:125-138. | ||
| Von Bubnoff, A., and Cho, K.W.Y. (2001). Intracellular BMP-Signaling Regulation in Vertebrates: Pathway or Network? Dev. Biol. 239:1-14 | ||
| Scott, I.C., Blitz, I.L., Pappano, W.N., Cho,K.W.Y., Greenspan, D.S. (2001) Vertebrate twisted gastrulation is a cofactor involved in BMP antagonism, Nature, 411:720-723. | ||
| Nishita, M., Hashimoto, M, Laurent, M.N., Ueno, N., Shibuya, H, and Cho, K.W.Y. (2000). Interaction between Wnt and TGF-b Signaling Pathways during SpemannÕ s Organizer Formation. Nature 403: 781-785. | ||
| Grant | PPG (HD38761-01) RO1 (GM59864) RO1 (HD29507 ) | |
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Professional Societies |
Society for Developmental Biology American Association for the Advancement of Science |
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| Graduate Programs |
Developmental Biology and Genetics |
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| Research Center | Developmental Biology Center | |
| Link to this profile | http://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile.cfm?faculty_id=2201 | |
| Last updated | 07/29/2005 | |