The Cheung Lab - specializing in chromatin and epigenetics research

Research Interests and Goals

Regulation of gene expression is a fundamental biological process that determines growth, differentiation, identity and function of all cells. Our laboratory uses a combination of molecular biology and biochemistry techniques to dissect the mechanisms that regulate mammalian gene expression through histone proteins and post-translational modifications of chromatin.

In particular, we focus on histone phosphorylation, methylation and ubiquitylation, processes that act as molecular switches to both regulate and fine-tune gene transcription.

Our goals are to dissect the molecular details of how these modifications on various histones and histone variants work individually, as well as how they work together in combinations to diversify the regulatory outcomes on different cell functions.

Achieving these goals will not only yield greater insights into basic cell biology principles, but will also impact on our understanding of cancer and other diseases caused by dysregulation of gene expression.