Publication list via PubMed

Research Research in our laboratory focuses on the molecular genetics and pathobiology of a novel family of amine oxidases, lysyl oxidases or LOXs. From the time of the discovery of the first member of this protein family, LOX, most studies have focused on the specific catalytic activity of this enzyme on collagen and elastin substrates essential to the structure and function of the extracellular matrix. Recently, multiple novel biological functions have been attributed to several of these amine oxidases.

Evidence from our and other laboratories demonstrated that LOX may have other extra- and intracellular and nuclear substrates. The range of the novel activities attributed to LOXs cover a spectrum of biological functions, including developmental regulation, tumor suppression, cell growth control and epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Some of the novel LOX-like proteins, in addition to the catalytic site, have domains such as cytokine receptor-like and SRCR domains that can participate in protein-protein interactions and individually function to perform these diverse roles in distinct cellular and tissue environments. Current research is directed at uncovering the functions of these amine oxidases in cellular processes, during the development of the cardiovascular system and in pathological conditions including skin diseases and breast cancer.

Another research area pursued in our laboratory is in the field of molecular pharmacology. We apply a functional genomic approach to understand the complex mechanism of active compounds isolated from ethnopharmaceuticals known to have selective biological effects and to inhibit cancer cell growth. DNA arrays and transcriptional profiling of treated cells are used to determine the biological activities of extracts and major pathways affected by drug treatment, including cell cycle TNF and CD 95 apoptotic pathways that interact in lung, breast, and prostate cancer cells.