Dr. Schweikhard is investigating, at the single molecule level, how certain transcription factors assist an enzyme called RNA polymerase II in faithfully copying the genetic information stored in our DNA to messenger RNA—the blueprint for the proteins in our body. Aberrant gene expression lies at the heart of cancer, and thus, a detailed understanding of the activities of specific transcription factors may open up a potential route toward cancer therapy.

 

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Project Title: "A single-molecule study of factors TFIIS and TFIIF during transcriptional elongation by RNA polymerase II"

Institution: Stanford University

Sponsor(s) / Mentor(s): Steven M. Block, PhD

Cancer Type: All cancers

Research Area: Biophysics