The Fritsch Laboratory
Faculty > Michael K. Fritsch
Michael K. Fritsch
Associate Professor, Department of Pathology
mkfritsch@wisc.edu
Organ System/Disease Focus
Early differentiation especially mesoderm and neuroectoderm.
Aligned Research Focus
Basic stem cell science.
Research Description
We study the molecular mechanisms regulating eukaryotic transcriptional activation and repression and, in particular, the role of chromatin remodeling. Our model system involves studying the role of chromatin remodeling in regulating early differentiation of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. We propose that a constellation of regional histone tail modifications play an essential role during exit from the undifferentiated state. We are defining the histone tail modifications that occur during ES cell differentiation and the effects disruption of normal chromatin remodeling pathways has on differentiation. We hope to gain insight into the mechanisms by which chromatin is remodeled during transcriptional activation/repression and identify key components in this process as well as the functional roles histone tail modifications play in early ES cell differentiation.
Selected References
Lee ER, Murdoch FE, Fritsch MK. High histone acetylation and decreased polycomb repressive complex 2 member levels regulate gene specific transcriptional changes during early embryonic stem cell differentiation induced by retinoic acid. Stem Cells, May 24 [Epub ahead of print], 2007.
McCool KW, Xu X, Singer DB, Murdoch FE, Fritsch MK. The role of histone acetylation in regulating gene expression patterns during early embryonic stem cell differentiation. J Biol Chem 282:6696-6706, 2007.
Lee ER, McCool KW, Murdoch FE, Fritsch MK. Dynamic changes in histone H3 phosphoacetylation during early embryonic stem cell differentiation are directly mediated by mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1 via activation of mitogen activated protein kinase pathways. J Biol Chem 2006 May 25; [Epub ahead of print].
Sauter C, McDermid R, Murdoch FE, Greco T, Stoddard A, Xu X, Fritsch MK. Progesterone receptor gene expression during early murine embryonic stem cell differentiation. Exp Cell Res 311:251-264, 2005.