# positions[].organizations[].parent[].label
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

# overview
An important step to control the amount of RNA or protein in particular types of cells is at the level of transcription of genes. Our lab studies a multifunctional vertebrate transcriptional activator protein known as SBF/Staf/ZNF143. This protein binds to SPH sites within promoters of many genes that produce small stable RNAs (e.g., snRNAs and others) PLUS probably over 2000 promoters of genes that produce mRNAs. Two separate activation domains in this protein direct its action at small RNA vs. mRNA gene promoters. We are using zebrafish as a vertebrate model organism to study the roles of SBF/Staf during development. In vivo studies are coupled with biochemical and molecular biology methods to decipher the mechanisms by which this protein stimulates transcription of various types of genes.

# educationAndTraining[].organization.label
University of California Los Angeles - (Los Angeles, California, United States)

# educationAndTraining[].organization.label
University of California, Davis - (Davis, California, United States)

# publications[].label
Upstream elements required for efficient transcription of a human U6 RNA gene resemble those of U1 and U2 genes even though a different polymerase is used.

# publications[].label
The Small RNA gene activator protein, SphI postoctamer homology-binding factor/selenocysteine tRNA gene transcription activating factor, stimulates transcription of the human interferon regulatory factor-3 gene.

# publications[].label
Molecular cloning of a cDNA encoding human SPH-binding factor, a conserved protein that binds to the enhancer-like region of the U6 small nuclear RNA gene promoter.

# publications[].label
Semihistone protein A24 replaces H2A as an integral component of the nucleosome histone core.

# publications[].publisher
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

# publications[].label
Interplay between Foxd3 and Mitf regulates cell fate plasticity in the zebrafish neural crest.

# publications[].label
Transcription boundaries of U1 small nuclear RNA.

# publications[].label
Transcription of a human U6 small nuclear RNA gene in vivo withstands deletion of intragenic sequences but not of an upstream TATATA box.

# publications[].label
RNA polymerase III transcription of genes that lack internal control regions.

# publications[].label
The human chd8 gene is transcribed from two distant upstream promoters.

# publications[].label
Functional characterization of elements in a human U6 small nuclear RNA gene distal control region.

# publications[].label
Identification of an essential proximal sequence element in the promoter of the telomerase RNA gene of Tetrahymena thermophila.

# publications[].label
TRANSCRIPTION COMPLEX-FORMATION ON A HUMAN SMALL NUCLEAR-RNA GENE PROMOTER

# publications[].label
Multiple full-length human U6 snRNA genes are transcribed at different levels

# publications[].label
Two paralogous znf143 genes in zebrafish encode transcriptional activator proteins with similar functions but expressed at different levels during early development.

# publications[].label
Identification of a SPH element in the distal region of a human U6 small nuclear RNA gene promoter and characterization of the SPH binding factor in HeLa cell extracts.

# publications[].label
The small RNA gene activator protein, SPH-binding factor/selenocysteine tRNA gene transcription activating factor, stimulates transcription of the human interferon regulatory factor-3 gene.

# publications[].label
Regulation of aldehyde reductase expression by STAF and CHOP.

# publications[].label
Zebrafish U6 small nuclear RNA gene promoters contain a SPH element in an unusual location.

# publications[].label
Multiple, dispersed human U6 small nuclear RNA genes with varied transcriptional efficiencies.

# publications[].label
Formation of a template committed complex on the promoter of a gene for the U6 small nuclear RNA from the human requires multiple sequence elements, including the distal region.

# publications[].label
The distal elements, OCT and SPH, stimulate the formation of preinitiation complexes on a human U6 snRNA gene promoter in vitro.

# publications[].label
U6 small nuclear RNA is transcribed by RNA polymerase III.

# publications[].publisher
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

# publications[].label
A complex that contains proteins binding to the PSE and TATA sites in a human U6 small nuclear RNA promoter.

# publications[].label
Both RNA polymerase III and RNA polymerase II accurately initiate transcription from a human U6 promoter in vitro.

# publications[].label
FUNCTIONAL-CHARACTERIZATION OF ELEMENTS IN A HUMAN U6 SMALL NUCLEAR-RNA GENE DISTAL CONTROL REGION

# publications[].label
Nucleosomes will not form on double-stranded RNa or over poly(dA).poly(dT) tracts in recombinant DNA.

# publications[].label
Histone-DNA interactions within chromatin. Isolation of histones from DNA-histone adducts induced in nuclei by UV light.

# publications[].label
Pre-messenger RNA splicing of transcripts synthesized from human small nuclear RNA gene promoters.

# publications[].label
CHD8short, a naturally-occurring truncated form of a chromatin remodeler lacking the helicase domain, is a potent transcriptional coregulator.

# publications[].label
BOTH RNA-POLYMERASE-III AND RNA-POLYMERASE-II RECOGNIZE THE HUMAN U6 PROMOTER IN-VITRO

# publications[].label
The ubiquitous transcriptional protein ZNF143 activates a diversity of genes while assisting to organize chromatin structure.

# publications[].label
The novel zinc finger-containing transcription factor osterix is required for osteoblast differentiation and bone formation.

# publications[].label
The transcriptional start site for a human U6 small nuclear RNA gene is dictated by a compound promoter element consisting of the PSE and the TATA box.

# publications[].label
The transcriptional activator ZNF143 is essential for normal development in zebrafish.

# researcherOn[].label
REU Site: Summer Undergraduate Research Program In Biochemistry

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Science Foundation - (Arlington, Virginia, United States)

# researcherOn[].label
REU Site - Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Biochemistry

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
Directorate for Biological Sciences - (Arlington, Virginia, United States)

# researcherOn[].label
REU Site: Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Biochemistry

# researcherOn[].awardedBy.label
National Science Foundation - (Arlington, Virginia, United States)

# streetAddress
Texas A&M University; Biochemistry & Biophysics; 2128 TAMU

# schools[]
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

# etdChairOf[].label
Halbig, Kari Michele (2009-05). Multiple roles for the zebrafish transcriptional activator SBF/Staf. Doctoral Dissertation.