Circuits and Pathways
When genes and their functions are considered within the context of what they do and how they interact broadly, important aspects of our biology can become clear. Our researchers study individual genes, but they also study how networks of genes and gene regulators interact. Similarly, they study not only what occurs within one cell, but how groups of cells interact.
During development, cells must coordinate in order to build a body: precise communication ensures that each cell differentiates into the necessary type, and joins with the necessary partners, to form tissues in the right locations and to the right specifications. Our researchers are decoding the signals that cells use to communicate, and using what they learn to bioengineer model cell systems. They also study how cells communicate within other settings, such as neurons in the brain. Other research at Whitehead Institute explores how genes are regulated, mapping the potentially complex networks of regulators that determine gene expression. Researchers can use this understanding to determine what genes and regulators are most relevant to diseases and what might be the best targets for new therapies.
Jennifer Cook-Chrysos/Whitehead Institute
All cells in an organism have the same DNA, organized into chromosomes and then further into genes, and it is how the genes are regulated differently that defines specific cell types. Whitehead Institute researchers are investigating how gene expression is regulated by studying molecules and processes including transcription factors – proteins that “read” DNA; epigenetic marks – heritable molecules that regulate genes; small RNAs; and DNA sequences like enhancers, which regulate the expression of genes, to both identify broad patterns in gene regulation and understand the myriad ways in which gene regulation influences biological processes and diseases of interest.
Our researchers have made important contributions to the understanding of how different RNAs play a variety of roles in gene regulation. They continue to identify regulatory RNAs and their functions in different biological processes, and to advance the field’s knowledge of microRNAs, very tiny RNAs that can regulate gene expression. They have elucidated how RNA regulation shifts during early embryonic development, and how regulatory RNAs are themselves regulated throughout an organism’s life.
Torsten Bansich
Cells use a diverse array of signals to communicate with each other and sense changes in their environments. Our researchers have shed light on the molecules involved in and mechanisms underlying many signaling pathways. With the advent of new technologies, researchers have been able to engineer genetic circuits that either replicate what the researchers have observed or even produce novel biology. Certain genes code for signals that instruct cells in how to organize to form a developing body. Our researchers are creating circuits that use these genes in order to produce tissue patterning in cells in the lab, helping them to understand how cells communicate during body development–with possible implications for regenerative medicine.
Steven Lee/Whitehead Institute
Neurons in the brain form interlinking circuits with multitudinous connections between cells, and this complex circuitry gives rise to behaviors, memories, and personalities. Our researchers use animal models and cutting edge tools to identify the circuitry responsible for behaviors including decision-making under uncertain conditions. They are also studying how brain circuits change in cases of disease, which could inform preventative and curative strategies for brain diseases including neurodegeneration.
