Understanding PITX2-Driven Gene Regulation
The Steimle Lab investigates the fundamental gene-regulatory networks that govern development and disease in the human body. Active research centers on the essential transcription factor, PITX2, which is a master regulator involved in a myriad of processes from establishing left-right asymmetry in the embryo to shaping the cardiopulmonary, craniofacial, and gastrointestinal systems.
We are working to understand how PITX2 orchestrates the complex interaction between transcription factors, epigenetic regulators, and cis-regulatory elements in these processes. To do this, we utilize a wide array of tools, including advanced genetic mouse models, state-of-the-art single-cell sequencing, and innovative gene therapy approaches to precisely map how PITX2 turns genes on and off. We hope to understand how PITX2 regulates gene expression, which could reveal new therapeutic targets for preventing and treating cardiac arrhythmias and other life-threatening conditions.
