Biker worm Boarder worm Striker worm Swimmer worm

the murphy lab
@ Princteon University
Thomas Heimbucher

Thomas Heimbucher

My research interests focus on transcriptional regulation, in particular the study of transcription factor- coregulator interactions. As a PhD at the University of Vienna I have established methods for protein-protein interaction analysis such as a mammalian Two Hybrid assay and have characterized the role of transcription factor- corepressor interactions in early brain development in Medaka (Japanese rice fish). As a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratories of Andy Dillin and Tony Hunter at the Salk institute I have expanded my research to study transcriptional mechanisms involved in age-related processes. Using a Tandem Affinity Purification method for the isolation of DAF-16 protein complexes in the nematode C. elegans, I have identified the deubiquitylating enzyme MATH-33, the ortholog of mammalian USP7/HAUSP, as an essential DAF-16 coregulator. MATH-33 actively stabilizes DAF-16 protein levels when IIS is downregulated and plays and integral role in healthspan and lifespan extension.