Cis-regulation and Evolution of Genes Involved in Immunity

ORCID

https://orcid.org0000-0002-4375-4019

Date of Award

2-7-2025

Author's School

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Author's Department

Biology & Biomedical Sciences (Immunology)

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Type

Dissertation

Abstract

The mammalian genome contains ~20,000 genes. Some of these genes are essential for the cellular processes of most, if not all, cells, and are therefore expressed across a variety of cell types. Other genes, however, are involved in specialized processes such as defense against pathogens. These immunity-related genes are often only expressed in immune cells that require them to function. My dissertation addresses how the expression of immunity-related genes is regulated, with the rationale that such knowledge will inform the development of therapies to turn on/off immune genes, as a way of activating/inhibiting the effector functions of immune cells, which could contribute to the control of cancer and/or the suppression of autoimmunity. Using high throughput sequencing and evolutionary analysis, my dissertation has expanded our knowledge of how genes involved in immunity are regulated, from the angles of enhancer elements and chromatin remodeling, under steady state and tumor progression.

Language

English (en)

Chair and Committee

Ting Wang

Committee Members

Kyunghee Choi; Laura Schuettpelz; Michael Landis; Wayne Yokoyama

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