2024-2029 R01 (NINDS): Regulation of phase separation in neuronal heterochromatin

Determine how the formation of heterochromatin is driven by targets of the degradative ubiquitin ligase anaphase-promoting complex (APC) and test the hypothesis that these APC-targets drive heterochromatin formation through liquid-liquid phase separation to provide fundamental insight into the role of chromatin regulation in neurons and neurodevelopment. 

2024-2026 R21 (NINDS): Recognition and ubiquitination of neurodevelopmental chromatin regulators

Elucidate the molecular functions of the ubiquitin ligase Anaphase-Promoting Complex (APC) in inherited neurodevelopmental disorders. We previously identified key mechanisms by which APC-mediated ubiquitin signaling controls the composition of heterochromatin in neurons and are utilizing sophisticated structural experiments to understand how ubiquitin ligases recognize substrates within protein complexes to provide molecular insight into key ubiquitin signaling pathways. 

2019-2024 K08 (NICHD): Ubiquitin signaling in epigenetic regulation of neuronal development

Understand the molecular and cellular pathogenesis of a novel form of inherited neurodevelopmental disorder due to mutation in a major ubiquitin signaling pathway.