Molecular Biology of the Gene Regulation Group

Molecular Biology of Gene Regulation group is led by Assistant Prof. Dr. Uygar Halis Tazebay. The Gene Regulation Group has three main focuses:
1) to discover novel mechanisms related with the transcriptional regulation of the sodium/iodide symporter gene in the mammary gland cells;
2) to identify the function of a human gene that is discovered by the group, and that interacts with a component of the Ras signaling pathway; a pathway that is important for the proliferation, differentiation and survival of eukaryotic cells;
3) and to establish a novel femtosecond laser based system for dissection of cells at the nanometer-scale (in collaboration with Asst. Prof. Dr. Ömer Ilday, Department of Physics).

In our analysis of genetic regulation at the transcriptional level, we are routinely using molecular techniques such as luciferase reporter assays, RNA blotting, real time RT-PCR, Electromobility Shift Assays (EMSA), and Chromatin Immunoprecipitations (ChIP). Our focus have been on the activation of transcription of NIS gene by nuclear receptors such as ER-alpha and RAR-RXR.

We are also interested in functional characterization of genes conserved in eukaryotes. In these analysis, for the initial interaction screenings we are using yeast-double-hybrid technique. Then we are validating interaction results by co-immunoprecipitations and immunoblotting techniques in cultured cells. We are also using shRNA related methods to identify functions of our genes of interest.

More information can be obtained by visiting the Molecular Biology of Gene Regulation Group website:
http://www.fen.bilkent.edu.tr/~bilmbg/Research/groups/Tazebay%20Group/