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TRANSLATING THE HISTONE CODE: A TALE OF TAILS
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C.
David Allis, Ph.D. |
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| C. David Allis, Ph.D., is based at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, where he is the Harry F. Byrd, Jr., Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, professor of microbiology, and member of the Center for Cell Signaling. He is known for his groundbreaking studies of the packaging of DNA in chromatin and the resulting functional consequences. Chromatin is a DNA-histone protein complex that manages the genetic information within each cell and facilitates access to specific genes. Dr. Allis's research deals with how chemical changes to histone proteins affect gene expression. Through a process called methylation, histones are believed to function like a master on/off switch and determine whether particular genes are active or inactive. Knowing how to control which genes to turn on or off could reduce the risk of certain diseases, such as by activating genes that suppress tumor growth and deactivating genes that support it. Dr. Allis was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2001 and presented with the 2001 Baxter Award for Distinguished Research in the Biomedical Sciences from the Association of American Medical Colleges. | |||
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