Discovery-driven research involving the molecular mechanisms by which hematopoietic growth factors regulate the cell signaling responsible for efficient cell growth of both normal and malignant/leukemic hematopoietic cells. Dr. MayŐs research is focused on regulation of apoptosis by Bcl2 and other anti- or pro-apoptotic factors. Dr. May also works on the three novel genes discovered by his laboratory: 1.) RAX (PKR-associated protein X) which is the only known cellular activator of PKR; 2.) JAZ (Just-another-zinc finger protein) which is a novel, direct activator of p53; and 3.) KOS (kinase of embryonic stem cells) which is a negative regulator of Ras and a tumor suppressor gene. His research is funded by the NCI and NHLBI of the NIH.
- Hoare, K., Hoare, S., Smith, O.M., Kalmaz, G, Small, D., and May, W.S. Kos1, A Novel Non-Receptor Tyrosine Kinase that Suppresses Ras Signaling. Oncogene 22.23:3562-3577, 2003.
- Deng, X., Gao, F., Flagg, ,T., May, W.S. Mono- and Multi-Site Phosphorylation Enhance Bcl2Ős Anti-Apoptotic and Inhibition of Cell Cycle Entry Functions. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 101, 153-158, 2004.
- Bennett, RL, Blalock, WL, Yu, P and May, WS. RAX, the PKR activator, sensitizes cells to inflammatory cytokines, serum withdrawal, chemotherapy and viral infection. Blood. 108(3):820-821, 2006.
- Deng, X., Gao, F., Flagg, T., Anderson, J., May, W.S. Bcl2Ős Flexible Loop Domain Regulates p53 Binding and Survival. Molecular Cell Biology. 26(12):4421-4434, 2006.
- Konopleva, M., Contractor, R., Ruvolo, P., Deng, X., Samudio, I., Verheagen M., Soengas, M., Shi, Y., McQueen, T., Ling, X., Marini, F., Harris, D., Estrov, Z., McCubrey, J., May, W.S., Fesik, S.W., Elmore, S., Rosenberg, S., Reed, J., Andreef, M. Mechanism of Bcl-2 Small Molecule Inhibitor-Mediated Apoptosis in Acute Leukemia Cells. Cancer Cell. 10(5):375-88, 2006.
- Yang, M., Song, W., Su, X., Sanks, A., May, W.S. JAZ Negatively Regulates G1 Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis by Positively Regulating p53 Transcription Activity. Blood. 108(13):4136-45, 2006.
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