The Chandra Lab
Our research focuses on special proteins called transcription factors—master regulators that control gene activity.
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We aim to:​
- Discover new ways to treat cancer and genetic diseases
- Understand fundamental cellular organization
- Design innovative therapeutic strategies​​​
Research
Exploring Nature's Droplet Factories in Health and Disease
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Conventionally we know that a protein’s unique shape gives it a unique function. However, some proteins defy this convention—they don’t adopt fixed structures or shapes. Instead, imagine a protein that's more like a flexible strand of cooked spaghetti rather than a meticulously folded origami. Recent discoveries suggest these "floppy" regions in proteins might help them to form liquid droplet-like structures inside cells. Just as oil forms droplets in water, proteins and nucleic acids in our cells can create specialized droplets that act as cellular control centers. This process, known as "liquid-liquid phase separation," and the resulting droplets, known as "biomolecular condensates", are like tiny biological factories where important cellular reactions take place. In our lab, we study how these molecular droplets influence health and disease, particularly in cancer.
Why This Matters?
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Imagine a city's emergency response system – police, firefighters, and medical teams that rapidly mobilize when needed and disperse once their job is done. Our cells follow a similar dynamic organization system, creating temporary "emergency response centers" through droplet formation, rather than relying solely on permanent structures. These dynamic, liquid-like compartments form rapidly when needed and dissolve when their task is complete, just like how emergency teams gather at a crisis site and disperse afterward.
In cancer cells, these dynamic response systems are often hijacked—imagine emergency teams being misdirected or assembling at the wrong places at the wrong times. This disruption of normal cellular organization can drive disease progression. Our research aims to understand how these cellular "emergency response systems" work normally and what happens when they malfunction in diseases like cancer. By understanding these processes, we hope to develop new therapeutic strategies—essentially finding ways to restore proper cellular organization and response systems.
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