Protein Interactions studies of cell fate development including pancreatic development

Dr. Prasanna Kolatkar's Group at QBRI works primarily on understanding the transcriptional networks determining cell fate using a variety of biophysical tools including X-ray crystallography. The SBG works in collaboration with stem cell and bioinformatics groups within and outside of QBRI to enable an integrated view of transcriptional networks. The group uses the genomic knowledge to target specific transcription factors and study them in detail to understand the mechanisms used by TFs to make protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions. They are currently analyzing several TFs involved in pluripotency and is working with stem cell groups that are studying pancreatic beta cell differentiation in normal and Type 2 Diabetes patients to target TFs with key roles in this process.