Chief, Epigenetics & RNA Biology Laboratory and Principal Investigator
Deputy Chief, Epigenetics & RNA Biology Laboratory and Principal Investigator
Research Summary
The Epigenetics and RNA Biology Laboratory investigates fundamental mechanisms by which epigenetics — non-genetic modulation and alterations — influences chromatin architecture, transcription and gene expression in normal, cancer and embryonic stem cells and provides insights into biological processes that modulate the effects of environmental exposures. It also focuses on the molecular basis of self-renewal and pluripotency in embryonic stem (ES) cells and induced pluripotency stem (iPS) cells, as well as gene regulatory pathways using genomic, molecular, biochemical, computational and structural approaches.
In addition to the cutting edge hypothesis driven research of its investigators the laboratory provides leadership and support to the NIEHS in areas of genomics, epigenomics, mass spectrometry, and bioinformatics analyses. These endeavors build and research strengths established in the prior Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis and extend the scope of the research beyond cancer to examine a broad range of environmental impacts on human health and development.
Principal Investigators
Chromatin & Gene Expression
Deputy Director, NIEHS;
NIH Distinguished Investigator
Eukaryotic Transcriptional Regulation
Chief, Epigenetics & RNA Biology Laboratory and Principal Investigator
Macromolecular Structure
Deputy Chief, Epigenetics & RNA Biology Laboratory and Principal Investigator
Transcriptional Responses in Disease
Scientific Support Staff
Donald L. Cox Jr
Administrative Specialist
Derrick L. Raynor
Administrative Technician
Publications
Recent Publications
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Carty J, Selvasingh J, Zuchowski Y, Nam H, Pénalva C, Nanayakkara G, Jennings E, Voss K, Adame E, Tossberg J, Yap W, Melzer M, Viquez O, McCall A, Piotrowski E, Bessho R, Cao S, Leaptrot K, Schrimpe-Rutledge A, Codreanu S, Sherrod S, McLean J, Trapani J, Cottam M, Wan M, Shrivastava D, Delker D, Wilson M, Hasenour C, Lantier L, Chernova I, Young J, Haase V, Vazquez-Medina J, Kosma D, Kim P, Cartailler J, Zhang M, Zent R, Harris R, Watts J, Terker A, Bock F, Rathmell J, Rodan A, Arroyo J. Dehydration promotes intracellular lipid synthesis and accumulation.
Nature communications.
2026 May 25 [Epub ahead of print].
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AbstractCarty J, Selvasingh J, Zuchowski Y, Nam H, Pénalva C, Nanayakkara G, Jennings E, Voss K, Adame E, Tossberg J, Yap W, Melzer M, Viquez O, McCall A, Piotrowski E, Bessho R, Cao S, Leaptrot K, Schrimpe-Rutledge A, Codreanu S, Sherrod S, McLean J, Trapani J, Cottam M, Wan M, Shrivastava D, Delker D, Wilson M, Hasenour C, Lantier L, Chernova I, Young J, Haase V, Vazquez-Medina J, Kosma D, Kim P, Cartailler J, Zhang M, Zent R, Harris R, Watts J, Terker A, Bock F, Rathmell J, Rodan A, Arroyo J. Dehydration promotes intracellular lipid synthesis and accumulation. Nature communications. 2026 May 25
]
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Liu Y, Grimm S, Lih F, Deterding L, Oakley R, Cidlowski J, Wade P. Methionine Deprivation-induced Reprogramming of Hepatic Rhythms Is Mediated by Glucocorticoid Receptor.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology.
2026 May 07 [Epub ahead of print].
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AbstractLiu Y, Grimm S, Lih F, Deterding L, Oakley R, Cidlowski J, Wade P. Methionine Deprivation-induced Reprogramming of Hepatic Rhythms Is Mediated by Glucocorticoid Receptor. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology. 2026 May 07
]
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Yasar P, Day C, Rodriguez J. Protocol for measuring endocrine disruptive effects on transcriptional bursting using single-molecule imaging in human breast cancer cells.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology.
2026 May 05 [Epub ahead of print].
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AbstractYasar P, Day C, Rodriguez J. Protocol for measuring endocrine disruptive effects on transcriptional bursting using single-molecule imaging in human breast cancer cells. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology. 2026 May 05
]
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Sikkema A, Klemm B, Perera L, Hall T. Enzyme structure and kinetics produce tRNA and nucleotide specificity of Schizosaccharomyces pombe CC- and A-adding enzymes.
Nucleic acids research.
2026 May 05;54(9):.
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AbstractSikkema A, Klemm B, Perera L, Hall T. Enzyme structure and kinetics produce tRNA and nucleotide specificity of Schizosaccharomyces pombe CC- and A-adding enzymes. Nucleic acids research. 2026 May 05
]
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Wang D, Wang X, Malki S, Chan Y, Bennett B, Feng J, Tang J, Chen X, McKim D, Zhang C, Tao L, Xu J, Chen Y, Hu G, Ying Q. GSK3α functions as a stemness checkpoint across multiple stem cell states.
Cell research.
2026 Apr 09 [Epub ahead of print].
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AbstractWang D, Wang X, Malki S, Chan Y, Bennett B, Feng J, Tang J, Chen X, McKim D, Zhang C, Tao L, Xu J, Chen Y, Hu G, Ying Q. GSK3α functions as a stemness checkpoint across multiple stem cell states. Cell research. 2026 Apr 09
]
