Blackwell~~S K N

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SKN-1 and oxidative stress resistance The transcription factor SKN-1 specifies formation of the feeding and digestive system during early stages of C. elegans embryogenesis. We have shown that in larvae and adults SKN-1 regulates the Phase 2 detoxification response, a conserved defense against oxidative stress, and that skn-1 is important for stress resistance and longevity. C. elegans provides a valuable system for investigating how this detoxification mechanism functions and is regulated in the context of a whole organism. We have recently begun to identify signaling and molecular mechanisms through which SKN-1 activity is regulated in the digestive system. We are combining genetic, molecular, screening, and biochemical approaches to study how SKN-1 is controlled and directed to respond to stress. We are also interested in understanding how SKN-1 and other transcription pathways influence stress resistance and organismal biology, and might be harnessed to slow the aging process.

Papers:

2006

Lehtinen MK, Yuan Z, Boag PR, Villen J, Becker EBE, DiBacco S, Yang Y, Gygi S, Blackwell TK, Bonni A. (2006) A conserved MST-FOXO signaling pathway mediates oxidative stress responses and extends lifespan. Cell 125, 987-1001. [download PDF]

2005:
Inoue H, Hisamoto N, An JH, Oliveira RP, Nishida E, Blackwell TK, Matsumoto K. The C. elegans p38 MAPK pathway regulates nuclear localization of the transcription factor SKN-1 in oxidative stress response. Genes Dev 2005; 19:2278-83.

An JH, Vranas K, Lucke M, Inoue H, Hisamoto N, Matsumoto K, Blackwell TK. Regulation of the Caenorhabditis elegans oxidative stress defense protein SKN-1 by glycogen synthase kinase-3. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2005; 102:16275-80.

2003:
An JH, Blackwell TK. SKN-1 links C. elegans mesendodermal specification to a conserved oxidative stress response. Genes Dev 2003; 17:1882-1893.

2000:
Walker AK, See R, Batchelder C, Kophengnavong T, Gronniger JT, Shi Y, Blackwell TK. (2000) A conserved transcription motif suggesting functional parallels between C. elegans SKN-1 and Cap ‘n’ Collar-related proteins. J. Biol. Chem., 275, 22166-22171.

1999:
Kophengnavong T, Carroll AS, Blackwell TK. (1999) The SKN-1 amino terminal arm is a DNA specificity segment. Mol. Cell. Biol., 19, 3039-3050.

1997:
Carroll AS, Gilbert DE, Liu X, Cheung JW, Michnowicz JE, Wagner G, Ellenberger TE, Blackwell TK. (1997) SKN-1 domain folding and basic region monomer stabilization upon DNA binding. Genes Dev. 11, 2227-2238.

1994:
Blackwell TK, Bowerman B, Priess J, Weintraub H. Formation of a monomeric DNA binding domain by Skn-1 bZIP and homeodomain elements. Science 1994; 266:621-8.