We invite you to attend the next Basic Science Seminar and join host Jeremy Reiter in welcoming our guest speaker, Dr. Stavros Lomvardas, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics at Columbia University on Tuesday, November 13, 12:10-1:10pm in GH AUD 106 for his talk titled: “Achieving singularity in olfactory receptor gene choice: there is lambda in (Greek) Islands” 

The Lomvardas lab research program aims to understand the molecular mechanisms of olfactory receptor gene choice. Olfactory receptor (OR) genes compose the largest mammalian gene family consisted of more than 1000 members. These genes are expressed in a stochastic and mutually exclusive fashion in such a way that only one OR allele is expressed in each olfactory sensory neuron. Their data suggest that this unusual expression pattern is orchestrated by a combination of positive and negative regulatory mechanism. According to our findings, OR genes undergo chromatin mediated silencing at a developmental stage that precedes olfactory receptor activation. One of the 3000 alleles is chosen for activation, by the enzymatic removal of the silencing chromatin marks. They currently combine genetic and biochemical approaches that together with cutting edge microscopy should reveal critical mechanistic details of this process.    

We very much encourage attendance but in the event you cannot make it in person, you can either log into MyAccess to get into the class capture link-  (https://tinyurl.com/2018FallBSS) or if at Parnassus, HSW 7th fl. conference room where the class capture will be shown live.

You can now tweet us questions @Ucsf_Biochem where we will read them in real time after the seminar.