Faculty Profile
Name: Edward Chan
Homepage: http://www.dental.ufl.edu/Faculty/EChan/
Research Interests:
Our laboratory is primarily interested in autoimmunity with the focus in autoantigens and autoantibodies associated with systemic autoimmune diseases, such as Sjögren’s’ syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus, and, more recently, oral cancer. The two main directions are 1) to identify and characterize specific autoimmune target antigens and understand why autoantibodies are induced and continually produced in different disease states and 2) to use human autoantibodies as unique probes to reveal the molecular and cellular functions of interesting macromolecules and subcellular organelles that are autoimmune targets. By understanding the biology of autoantigens in health and disease states, we can appreciate the functional and pathogenic potentials of autoantibodies.
In the past 5 years, our laboratory has been actively characterizing the RNA binding protein GW182 which is a macromolecular marker of the novel cytoplasmic foci known as GW bodies (GWB). GWB were first considered as both storage centers for a specific subset of mRNAs and degradation sites for mRNAs. GWB are the mammalian counterpart of processing bodies (P bodies) identified in yeast. Interestingly, GWB are known to vary in size and number throughout the cell cycle and are largest in size and most abundant in number during the late S and G2 phases. Recent studies in our laboratory have linked RNA interference (RNAi) to GWBs, in that disruption or disassembly of GWB impairs short interference RNA (siRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) silencing activity. Furthermore, we showed that the biogensis of miRNA is closely linked to GWB formation. Gene silencing via RNAi is a remarkable form of gene regulation. The best known macromolecule essential for this biological process is the protein known as Ago2, also a significant autoantigen in lupus and related disorders, is the catalytic core of the RNA induced silencing complex (RISC). We and others have demonstrated that Ago2 is highly enriched in GWBs suggesting that RNAi function is compartmentalized in most cells examined to date. As miRNAs are implicated in the regulation of cell cycle progression and cell proliferation, it is very likely that GWBs may very well be also linked to these cellular processes. Our laboratory will continue to examine the role of GWB in cellular miRNA function, their contribution to different disease processes, and the use of RNAi for therapeutics especially in oral medicine.

Current Running Projects:
Medical - GW bodies and RNAi in biology and diseases
Our laboratory is primarily interested in cell biology and autoimmunity with the focus in autoantigens and autoantibodies associated with systemic autoimmune diseases, such as Sjögren’s’ syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus, and, more recently, oral cancer. The two main directions are 1) to identify and characterize specific autoimmune target antigens and understand why autoantibodies are induced and continually produced in different disease states and 2) to use human autoantibodies as unique probes to reveal the molecular and cellular functions of interesting macromolecules and subcellular organelles that are autoimmune targets. By understanding the biology of autoantigens in health and disease states, we can appreciate the functional and pathogenic potentials of autoantibodies.
In the past 5 years, our laboratory has been actively characterizing the RNA binding protein GW182 which is a macromolecular marker of the novel cytoplasmic foci known as GW bodies (GWB). GWB were first considered as both storage centers for a specific subset of mRNAs and degradation sites for mRNAs. GWB are the mammalian counterpart of processing bodies (P bodies) identified in yeast. Interestingly, GWB are known to vary in size and number throughout the cell cycle and are largest in size and most abundant in number during the late S and G2 phases. Recent studies in our laboratory have linked RNA interference (RNAi) to GWBs, in that disruption or disassembly of GWB impairs short interference RNA (siRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) silencing activity. Furthermore, we showed that the biogensis of miRNA is closely linked to GWB formation. Gene silencing via RNAi is a remarkable form of gene regulation. The best known macromolecule essential for this biological process is the protein known as Ago2, also a significant autoantigen in lupus and related disorders, is the catalytic core of the RNA induced silencing complex (RISC). We and others have demonstrated that Ago2 is highly enriched in GWBs suggesting that RNAi function is compartmentalized in most cells examined to date. As miRNAs are implicated in the regulation of cell cycle progression and cell proliferation, it is very likely that GWBs may very well be also linked to these cellular processes. Our laboratory will continue to examine the role of GWB in cellular miRNA function, their contribution to different disease processes, and the use of RNAi for therapeutics especially in oral medicine.

Requirements: Please provide current college transcript. Background that includes laboratory coursework in molecular biology, microbiology, cell biology, and/or immunology preferred.

Time Commitment: minimum 8 hours per week
Independent Study: Available
Work Study: Not Available
Salary: Not Available
Volunteer: Available
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