Kellen Andrilenas

Kellen Andrilenas

Boston University • Biology

Understanding the fundamentals of gene regulation

Transcription factors (TFs) bind to genes to regulate gene expression; however, we lack a fundamental understanding of this process. Our data suggest that the strength of TF DNA binding does not correlate with gene activity as had been previously assumed; rather, small differences in the DNA sequences that some TFs bind to have dramatic effects on gene activation. Building a detailed model of the relationship between transcription factors and gene regulation may allow scientists to understand the impact of small genetic mutations on gene regulation and their role in human disease.