Welcome to the
WEILER LAB WEILER LAB WEILER LAB
Department of Biology
West Virginia University
Life Sciences Building
53 Campus Drive
Morgantown, WV 26506-6057


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KWeiler Image
 
Dr. Karen S. Weiler
Assistant Professor of Genetics and Molecular Biology




Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, 1992, Princeton University

B.S. in Biology, 1986, College of William & Mary

Research Interests:  Epigenetic Regulation of Gene Expression; Chromosome Structure
 
 

Contact Info

phone:  (304) 293-5201
               office:  ext. 31473
               laboratory:  ext. 31478

email: Karen.Weiler@mail.wvu.edu


Research

Research Summary:  The Weiler laboratory is interested in eukaryotic chromosome structure and function, and more specifically the role of epigenetic mechanisms in influencing the activity of the genome.  Drosophila melanogaster (the fruit fly) has historically played a prominent role in the field of chromosome biology, and is the organism of choice for our research laboratory as well as many others studying various aspects of chromosome behavior.  With D. melanogaster we have a powerful toolbox of genetics, molecular biology and cytology at our fingertips and resources that include a sequenced genome, a large public collection of mutant and transgenic strains and a friendly research community.

Our long term goal is to better understand the molecular mechanisms by which chromatin proteins regulate genome activity (e.g. gene expression, chromosome segregation, DNA metabolism etc.) in Drosophila.  To this end, we are studying two proteins:  D1 and the E(var)3-9 protein.  The nonhistone chromosomal protein D1 was originally identified biochemically as a DNA-binding protein that has high affinity for AT-rich satellite DNAs within heterochromatin.  We are trying to elucidate the function of D1 using genetic and molecular approaches.  Our current hypothesis is that D1 regulates gene expression as an architectural transcription factor.  The E(var)3-9 gene was originally identified via dominant mutations that enhanced position effect variegation of the In(1)wm4 allele.  The E(var) class of genic modifiers to which E(var)3-9 belongs is proposed to encode proteins that promote a euchromatic chromatin structure and/or antagonize heterochromatic chromatin structure.  The results of our analyses of E(var)3-9 support this hypothesis.  The cloning and sequence analysis of the E(var)3-9 gene revealed that it encodes a zinc finger protein, suggestive of DNA-binding activity.

More information about our research....

Lab Personnel

Meet current and past lab members here.

We are always looking for dedicated graduate and undergraduate researchers!
Courses

Current Offerings:
    Genomics
    Introduction to Recombinant DNA
    Epigenetics

Past Offerings:
    Principles of Biology

More information about Courses.