Jennifer Jane Westendorf, Ph.D.

Minnesota

Ph.D.

Biomedical Sciences - Immunology, Mayo Graduate School, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

Fellowship

Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN

Academic Rank

Associate Professor

Interests

Mechanisms whereby the transcription factors, Runx2 and Lef1, regulate gene expression in osteoblasts. Runx2 is required for bone formation and contributes to cancer-induced bone disease. We have identified multiple repression domains in Runx2 and are currently determining how these domains mediate interactions with other proteins to contribute to transcription repression. Among the proteins we have identified are three histone deacetylases and a transcription factor (Lef1). Our studies focus on defining how the interactions of these proteins with Runx2 are regulated during osteoblast differentiation and cancer-induced bone disease. We are also interested in defining how these Runx2 complexes contribute to bone formation and metastatic cancer.

Research

See a description of research activities.