Kelm Lab Research

Research Interests

• Cardiovascular Disease Mechanisms
• Molecular Biology of Cell Differentiation
• Biochemistry of Protein-ssDNA Interactions

The primary objective of Dr. Kelm’s research program is to uncover the molecular mechanisms responsible for the dysfunctional phenotypic reprogramming of vascular smooth muscle cells in diseased or injury arteries. His laboratory has identified and characterized several functionally novel single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)/RNA-binding proteins, which regulate the expression of genes encoding tissue-specific isoforms of actin and myosin in smooth, skeletal, and cardiac muscle. At the present time, members of the Kelm lab are seeking to elucidate the how purine-rich element binding proteins A and B (PURA and PURB) and Y-box binding protein 1 (YB-1), facilitate the phenotypic modulation of stress-activated cardiovascular cell types in human beings and animal models. His lab uses a combination of biochemical, biophysical, cellular, and in vivo approaches to study this problem.

Last modified February 10 2012 04:57 PM