Forms

• LMC Special Volunteer or Guest Researcher Appt. Checklist (New/Renewal) - Non-U.S. Citizen   Word  (33KB) , PDF  (25KB)
• LMC Post-Doc IRTA, Appt. Renewal Checklist   Word  (32KB) , PDF  (25KB)
• LMC Post-Doc IRTA, New Appt. Checklist Word  (32KB) , PDF  (23KB)
• LMC Post-Doc Visiting Fellow, Appt. Renewal Checklist,   Word  (49KB) , PDF  (178KB)
• LMC Post-Doc Visiting Fellow, New Appt. Checklist   Word  (44KB) , PDF  (111KB)
• LMC Research Fellow (VP), New Appt. Checklist   Word  (51KB) , PDF  (147KB)
• LMC Research Fellow (VP), Appt. Renewal Checklist   Word  (49KB) , PDF  (178KB)
• LMC Special Volunteer or Guest Researcher Appt. Checklist (New/Renewal) - U.S. Citizen Word  (33KB) , PDF  (24KB)

Special Recognitions

Fromm Recognized for Best Oral Presentation at Science Day

Dr. George Fromm, a post-doctoral fellow in Dr. Karen Adelman's group, was presented with an award for the best oral presentation made by the fellows at the 2012 NIEHS Science Day. The award was presented by Dr. Joel Abramowitz, Science Day Organizer and representative of the Scientific Director's Office. Dr. Fromm's research is focussed on a study of pausing of RNA Polymerase II during early transcription elongation. This pausing is thought to play a key role during the expression of genes involved in stimulus response and development. George used mouse and pluripotent cell model systems to show that pausing is essential for early embryonic developmental events, largely through its involvement in fine-tuning Mapk/ERK signaling. This pausing may serve similar functions during other processes in which a cell is induced to change its transcriptional profile, for example, in response to environmental stimuli, in the developmental origin of disease and during the transformation associated with cancer.

Cold Spring Harbor Asia Fellowship awarded to Dr. Wang

Dr. Li Wang, a Visiting Fellow in the Stem Cell Biology Group led by Dr. Guang Hu, was recently awarded a Cold Spring Harbor Asia Fellowship in recognition of his outstanding poster presentation at the Cold Spring Harbor Asia meeting on Stem Cells and Developmental Mechanisms. The meeting was held in early December, 2012 in Suzhou, China. Dr. Wang's research is focused on how to improve cardiac differentiation efficiency through genetical modification of specific genes in human embryonic stem cells (ESCs). He found that Cnot3, a pluripotent factor identified by the Hu lab, plays a critical role during mouse heart development and promotes human cardiac differentiation in vitro. Thus, Cnot3 may serve as a potential target to overcome the low efficiency of cardiac cell differentiation and improve the outcome of stem cell replacement therapy in heart disease.

Fellows Award for Research Excellence for 2012

Congratulations to LMC members (l-r) Drs. Georgette Charles, Staton Wade, Xiofeng Zheng, and Swati Ghosh on each receiving a Fellows Award for Research Excellence for 2012. Their abstracts were selected from numerous entries from post doctoral fellows throughout the NIH. Drs. Charles and Zheng work in the laboratory of Dr. Guang Hu; Dr. Wade works with Dr. Trevor Archer, and Dr. Ghosh works with Dr. Raja Jothi.

Burd accepts position at Ohio State University

Craig Burd, Ph.D., recently accepted an Assistant Professor position at The Ohio State University in the Department of Molecular Genetics. He will join a special program at the university focused on solid tumor biology as he transitions his work looking at the influence of chromatin and epigenetics on endocrine disruptor action. He will begin his appointment in January of 2013. Dr. Burd has been a postdoctoral fellow in the Chromatin and Gene Expression group under Dr. Trevor Archer's supervision since joining NIEHS in 2006.

Available Techniques & Expertise in LMC

Sequencing Lab Group (SLG) Mission

The mission of the Automated DNA Sequencing Core Unit is to provide excellent quality data in a reasonable amount of time. Our policy is to provide each investigator an equal opportunity to submit samples and our goal is to return analyzed data within 1 to 2 days from the samples submission. Our average turnaround time is less than 24 hours from sample submission. The NIEHS DNA Sequencing Core uses biochemical methods to determine the order of nucleotide bases - adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine - in a DNA sample. The core uses Perkin-Elmer ABI Model 3100 and Model 3130 sequencers, which offer a variety of services including single pass primer extension using plasmid DNA, PCR products or genomic DNA as a sequencing template. The single pass extension using conventional sequencing primers such as M13, T7, T3 and SP6 or a custom primer, can provide 600-650 base pairs of "good" or viable sequence data with a quick turnaround time. Shotgun sequencing strategies can be used to sequence a variety of samples including cosmids, BACs and PACs.

The DNA Sequencing Core does not accept samples from the general public, but any investigator from within the Institute may submit samples for analysis at no cost. Greg Solomon manages the facility, with biologist Jason Malphurs and sequencing engineer John Otstot assisting in the generation of sequence data.
Sequencing Lab Group (SLG) Publications  (20KB)

Sequencing Lab Group (SLG) Staff

Greg Solomon
Manager

Tel (919) 541-1812
solomon1@niehs.nih.gov

Jason Malphurs
Biologist

Tel (919) 316-4588
malphurs@niehs.nih.gov

John Otstot
Biologist

Tel (919) 541-0493
otstot@niehs.nih.gov

Nicole Reeves, M.S.
Biologist

Tel (919) 541-0476
reeves@niehs.nih.gov

In Vivo Imaging System for Bioluminescence and Fluorescence

Bioluminescent Images of Tumor-bearing Mice
Human breast carcinoma cells expressing firefly luciferase were injected into the mammary fat pads of nude (immunocompromised) female mice. To visualize the location of tumor cells, mice were injected intraperitoneally with luciferin, then anesthetized and placed in the Caliper Spectrum in vivo imaging system at NIEHS. Each image shows an overlay of the bioluminescent signal on a white light image of the mouse (ventral view).
A) Mouse showing bioluminescent signal from the primary tumor in the mammary fat pad 6 weeks after injection of tumor cells. Note the scale indicates the most intense pixels represent approximately 1 x 109 photons/sec/cm2.
B) Same mouse, imaged one week after surgical resection of the primary tumor, showing three areas of bioluminescence: 1) potential remaining cells from primary tumor, or metastasis to adjacent fat pad; 2) potential metastasis to another mammary fat pad or axillary lymph nodes; and 3) potential lung metastasis. Maximal bioluminescent signal in this mouse was approximately 1 x 104 photons/sec/cm2 which would not have been visible when the primary tumor was present.
C) Another mouse imaged one week after the primary tumor was surgically resected. Note the absence of tumor over the mammary fat pad, but the appearance of bioluminescence over the chest. The most intense signal from this apparent lung metastasis represents approximately 4 x 104 photons/sec/cm2. (D. Ray, P. Myers, and J. Roberts)
Contact John Roberts in LMC for information and training in the use of the Caliper Spectrum IVIS located within the animal facility at NIEHS.

Calendar of Events

For more on the LMC Journal Club and Seminar Series, see below.

Journal Club Mission

The LMC journal club has been established to foster scientific discussion on the most recent science publications of interest to the laboratory. All members are invited to pick, present and lead a discussion on a recent journal article.

Notes to Participants

The 2012-2013 journal club will be held on the 2nd Friday of each month at noon unless otherwise notified.  The meeting dates and locations are listed below (ECR = Executive Conference Room, next to the cafeteria).  Anyone in the LMC is welcome to present, including fellows, biologists and principle investigators.  Anyone interested in leading a discussion should contact Hrisavgi (Chrys) Kondilis-Mangum at (919) 541-5186 or by email at kondilismanguhd@niehs.nih.gov.

Some Guidelines

We ask that a PDF file and a short description of the article to be discussed to be emailed to the organizer for distribution at least 7 days prior to leading the meeting. We also ask if a speaker must cancel their discussion that reasonable notice is given so that the organizer can locate a substitute or rearrange the schedule.

Journal Club Schedule

ECR = Executive Conference Room

Please be aware the schedule is subject to change. Scheduled dates as well as speaker will be updated on the Web site so stay tuned for journal club news.

Seminar Series Schedule

Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis

2012 - Thursdays, 10:00 A.M., D450 Conference Room