Gayle Woloschak, PhD

Professor
Department of Radiology and
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology

Nanocomposites; Genes controlling radiosensitivity and motor neuron dysfunction

Curricula:
Molecular Biology and Genetics

E-mail:   g-woloschak@northwestern.edu

There are two main areas of research in the Woloschak laboratory:

Studies of DNA-TiO2 nanoparticles—We have developed nanocomposites with combined functional properties of the biomolecule (DNA) and the inorganic compound (TiO2).   The DNA is covalently bound to the TiO2 nanoparticle when the nanoparticles are smaller than 20nm in size. These nanoparticles have the ability to hybridize to DNA and participate in PCR reactions (function of the biomolecule) and to carry out light- or radiation-induced charge separation (function of the inorganic TiO2).  We have been able to use these nanocomposites to carry out site-specific cleavage of DNA, to home to particular intracellular sites (mitochondria, nucleoli), and to participate in enzymatic reactions.  This project is oriented toward functional use of these nanocomposites for (1) intracellular manipulation, (2) imaging, and (3) gene silencing. 

Studies of radiosensitivity/motor neuron disease—The wasted mouse is a model that has a combined radiation sensitivity, immunodeficiency, and motor neuron dysfunction.  The purpose of this project is to understand the molecular basis for the combined abnormalities from a molecular-cellular perspective.  We have identified several candidate genes that are important in the disease progression, with much of the work focusing on PCNA and its role in the development of radiation sensitivity.  Chip-based mRNA studies, gene promoter analyses, immunohistochemistry, and standard molecular approaches are being used to address this question.

Publications:

Paunesku, T., Rajh, T., Wiederrecht, G., Maser, J., Vogt, S., Stojicevic, N., Protic, M., Lai, B., Oryhon, J., Thurnauer, M. C., and Woloschak, G. E.  Biology of TiO2-olignucleotide nanocomposites.  Nature Materials, 13 April 2003.

Paunesku, T., Mittal, S., Protic, M., Korolev, S., Joachimiak, A. and Woloschak, G.E.  Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA): Ringmaster of the genome.  International Journal of Radiation Biology (2001) 77 (10): 1007-1021

PubMed website View Publications by Gayle Woloschak listed in the National Library of Medicine (PubMed).

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