John Tamkun

About

John Tamkun is a Professor of Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology at UCSC. He holds a B.A. from the University of South Florida and a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research focuses on the regulation of chromatin structure and gene expression, particularly through the study of nucleosomes and chromatin-remodeling complexes. Tamkun's laboratory uses the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism to investigate how chromatin-remodeling complexes are regulated, targeted to specific genes, and interact with histone-modifying enzymes and other regulatory proteins to modulate chromatin structure and transcription. His work emphasizes understanding the roles of chromatin remodeling in transcriptional regulation, higher-order chromatin structure maintenance, and cell fate specification. The research is highly relevant to human health, as conserved counterparts of Drosophila chromatin-remodeling factors are present in humans, and mutations in related genes are associated with cancer and other diseases.

Research topics

• Biology
• Genetics
• Cell biology
• Molecular biology
• Computational biology

Selected publications

• Programming off and on states in chromatin: mechanisms of Polycomb and trithorax group complexes

  Current Opinion in Genetics & Development · 2002-04-01 · 327 citations

  reviewSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Polycomb and Trithorax Group Genes in <i>Drosophila</i>

  Genetics · 2017-08-01 · 238 citations

  reviewOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Polycomb group (PcG) and Trithorax group (TrxG) genes encode important regulators of development and differentiation in metazoans. These two groups of genes were discovered in Drosophila by their opposing effects on homeotic gene (Hox) expression. PcG genes collectively behave as genetic repressors of Hox genes, while the TrxG genes are necessary for HOX gene expression or function. Biochemical studies showed that many PcG proteins are present in two protein complexes, Polycomb repressi…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Modulation of ISWI function by site‐specific histone acetylation

  EMBO Reports · 2002-03-01 · 227 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Multiple roles for ISWI in transcription, chromosome organization and DNA replication

  Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Gene Structure and Expression · 2003-12-23 · 191 citations

  reviewSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• The Drosophila BRM complex facilitates global transcription by RNA polymerase II

  The EMBO Journal · 2002-09-30 · 173 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• Genetic and molecular studies of Drosophila chromatin remodeling factors

  NIH · $4.9M · 1993–2015

Frequent coauthors

• Paul A. Khavari

  Stanford University

  38 shared

• Gerald Crabtree

  Stanford University

  36 shared

• Filippo Randazzo

  Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

  36 shared

• Janet Rossant

  University of Toronto

  36 shared

• James A. Kennison

  Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

  32 shared

• Richard O. Hynes

  Howard Hughes Medical Institute

  29 shared

• Jennifer A. Armstrong

  Children's Hospital at Westmead

  27 shared

• Ophelia Papoulas

  The University of Texas at Austin

  25 shared

Similar researchers at University of California, Santa Cruz

• Carol Greiderh-100
• William Sullivanh-55
• Todd M. Loweh-47