Research Programs

The McArdle Laboratory has 19 independent research laboratories. These laboratories, however, share intellectual goals, reagents, and equipment. Weekly joint meetings among laboratories, coupled with weekly individual laboratory meetings and one-on-one faculty-student meetings, underscore our commitment to graduate and postdoctoral training. The many excellent research laboratories in the 70 other biological science departments at the University of Wisconsin-Madison guarantee ready exchange of ideas and collaborations.

Our research goals at the McArdle Laboratory include:

Tumor Virology

• Delineate the mechanisms of replication and gene expression in several tumor viruses including the hepatitis B virus, the human immunodeficiency virus 1, Epstein-Barr virus, and papovaviruses.

• Elucidate the mechanisms by which Epstein-Barr Virus transforms human cells and thereby contributes to human cancer.

• Develop models for evaluating therapies for human papilloma virus-mediated cervical cancer.

Signal Transduction

• Identify and characterize key components of the Abelson kinase pathway.

• Investigate the role of glucocorticoids in regulating expression of cytochrome p450 genes.

• Define the differentiation-specific transcription factors inducing expression of the platelet-derived growth factor gene.

• Analyze the roles of the estrogen receptor superfamily members in regulating expression of tumor viruses and cellular genes.

Cell Cycle

• Determine the role of the myc and E2F transcription factors in inducing a resting cell to proliferate.

• Understand the regulation of activity of the p53 tumor suppressor protein in response to DNA damage.

• Identify the cis and trans factors regulating the turnover of labile RNAs such as myc. Determine the mechanism of RNA polymerase II transcription and its regulation.

Cancer Genetics

• Identify genes conferring sensitivity or resistance to cancer with mice.

• Characterize modifier loci of the colon cancer-susceptibility syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis.

• Isolate components of the transforming growth factor B signaling pathways using Drosophila's tractable genetics.

Chemical Carcinogenesis

• Design novel glutathione-S-transferase enzymes to protect normal cells from the deleterious effects of chemotherapy.

• Elucidate the role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in mediating the carcinogenic effects of dioxin.

• Understand the mechanisms of the multistage nature of cancer development in relation to its prevention, therapy, and risk analysis.

• Characterization of the molecular basis for xenobiotic induction of drug-metabolizing enzymes.