The major focus of my research is to understand the molecular control of organ formation and cell-type specification. In particular, we are focusing on the role that homeobox genes play in early organogenesis and hematopoiesis. Current projects in my laboratory are focused on determining the function that the divergent homeobox gene Hhex plays during organogenesis. Based on a null mutation of Hhex generated in my laboratory, we have determined that Hhex is crucial for early liver specification and morphogenesis, heart and vascular development, and lymphopoiesis. We plan to determine the precise role of Hhex in these critical developmental processes and the factors with which it interacts using mouse molecular genetics, conditional gene knockouts, and transgenic over expression in specific cells and tissues. By studying the specific role of Hhex during development, we will gain important insight into the basic developmental mechanisms involved in early organogenesis of a number of different organs. Ultimately, we plan to use the knowledge obtained by our study of the basic mechanisms of organ development to repair and regenerate organs and tissues in humans.

Djavani M, Topisirovic I, Zapata JC, Sadowska M, Yang Y, Rodas J, Lukashevich IS, Bogue CW, Borden KLB, Salvato MS. The proline-rich homeodomain (PRH/HEX) protein is downregulated in liver infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. J Virol. Feb;79(4):2461- 73, 2005.

Cong R, Jiang X, Wilson C, Hunter MP, Bogue CW. The homeodomain protein Hhex is a direct repressor of endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM-1). Biochem Biophys Res Commun 346(2):535-545, 2006.

Hunter MP, Wilson CM, Jiang X, Cong R, Vasavada H, Kaestner K, and Bogue, CW. The homeobox gene Hhex is essential for proper hepatoblast differentiation and bile duct morphogenesis. Dev Biol 2007 (In press).