Molecular & Cellular Faculty
Mailing
address:
Department of Environmental
and Molecular Toxicology
Box 7633, NC State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7633
Shipping
address:
Suite 1104, 850 Main Campus Dr.
Raleigh, NC 27606
Phone
919.515.2274
Fax 919.515.7169
The research focus of Molecular and Cellular Toxicology is to investigate and elucidate how environmental toxicants/cellular stressors contribute to toxicity and influence disease outcomes. The broad research theme is to understand how toxicants and cellular stressors perturb cellular signaling pathways and deregulate gene expression and how this contributes to toxicity and human disease outcomes. Specific environmental-associated human diseases/conditions such as asthma, lung fibrosis, reproductive/endocrine abnormalities, developmental abnormalities and cancer as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related toxicity are the focal molecular/cellular research areas. Examples of types of environmental agents that are being investigated include environmental carcinogens, pesticides, particulates, metals, endocrine disrupters and nanoparticles.
The research interests of faculty participating in the MCT concentration encompass four broad areas of scientific study:
- cell cycle regulation and molecular carcinogenesis
- developmental, endocrine & reproductive toxicology
- regulation and function of xenobiotic processing enzymes, and
- cellular stress and gene regulation/expression
Accordingly, laboratories that comprise the Concentration in Molecular and Cellular Toxicology are grouped together based on common research interests. While each laboratory is placed in one specific category, many laboratories are conducting research that crosses the three broad areas of scientific study.
Note: Faculty listed below include faculty whose home department is Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, as well as those who are Associate and Adjunct members ofthe department.
Cell Cycle Regulation and Molecular Carcinogenesis
| Faculty & link to Faculty Research Page |
Research Description |
| Robert C. Smart, Director of Graduate Programs, Coordinator of MCT Concentration | Carcinogenesis, signaling pathways regulating cell growth and differentiation, and DNA damage checkpoint responses |
| Jon M. Horowitz | Tumor-suppressor genes and cell-cycle control |
| Robert Langenbach | Metabolic and molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis |
| Mac Law | Mechanisms of carcinogenesis in fish models such as the Japanese medaka |
| Scott D. McCulloch | Biochemistry of translesion DNA synthesis; Regulation of DNA polymerases |
| B. Alex Merrick | Proteomics; p53 phosphorylation and pathway in cancer |
| R. Julian Preston | Genetic risk assessment and genetic susceptibility to cancer |
| Marcelo L. Rodriguez-Puebla | Carcinogenesis, cell cycle regulation in normal and neoplastic proliferation |
| David M. Threadgill | Systems Biology/Functional genomics approaches to susceptibility |
Developmental, Endocrine & Reproductive Toxicology
| Faculty & link to Faculty Research Page |
Research Description |
| Gerald A. LeBlanc | Endocrine disruption, chemical mixtures |
| Kenneth S. Korach | Reproductive and developmental toxicology |
| Nanette M. Nascone-Yoder | Developmental abnormalities; chemical genetic approach |
| Heather B. Patisaul | Endocrine disruption |
Regulation and Function of Xenobiotic Processing Enzymes
| Faculty & link to Faculty Research Page | Research Description |
| Joyce Goldstein | Human CYP enzymes: Biochemistry and molecular biology |
| Ernest Hodgson | Flavin-containing monooxygenases and cytochrome P450: Molecular biology and involvement in metabolism |
| Seth W. Kullman | Molecular, computational and comparative/functional genomic approaches to examine gene environment interactions |
| Andrew Wallace | Mechanisms by which toxicants impact human health by altering steroid/nuclear receptor cellular signaling |
| Darryl C. Zeldin | Cytochrome P450 eicosanoid metabolism; cyclooxygenases and lung function |
Cellular Stress and Gene Regulation/Expression
| Faculty & link to Faculty Research Page |
Research Description |
| Kenneth B. Adler | Mechanisms of airway inflammation |
| James C. Bonner | Cellular and molecular mechanisms of lung injury in response to metal oxides, particles and nanoparticles |
| Arnold R. Brody | Fibroproliferative lung disease; asbestos |
| David J. Dix | Reproductive Toxicogenomics |
| Scott M. Laster | Role of tissue necrosis factor (TNF) in autoimmune diseases |
| Jun Ninomiya-Tsuji | Signaling networks activated by stresses and cytokines in mammalian cells; roles of kinase cascades |
| Philip L. Sannes | Growth factor-extracellular matrix interactions in epithelial function |
| Yoshiaki Tsuji | Gene regulation and signaling involved in iron homeostasis and detoxification in environmental and oxidative stress |