Jennifer Chen, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral research fellow

Education
University of Pennsylvania, 2002

Lab
Charles P. Emerson, Jr.

Research Interests
The Hedgehog family of signalling molecules is essential for cell fate determination and pattern formation during embryogenesis. Binding of the Sonic Hedgehog ligand to its receptor, Patched, triggers a series of events culminating in the activation of target genes such as those encoding for the Gli family of transcription factors. Interestingly, mice bearing a loss-of-function mutation in one copy of the patched gene are susceptible to medulloblastoma, basal cell carcinoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma. We are using a variety of in vivo and cell culture-based approaches to understand the molecular mechanisms by which patched heterozygosity leads to tumour formation.

Recent Publications:
Chen JC, Mortimer J, Marley J, Goldhamer DJ. MyoD-cre transgenic mice: a model for conditional mutagenesis and lineage tracing of skeletal muscle. in press.

Chen JC, Goldhamer DJ. (2004) The core enhancer is essential for proper timing of MyoD activation in limb buds and branchial arches. Dev Biol. 265(2):502-12.

Chen JC, Goldhamer DJ. (2003) Skeletal muscle stem cells. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 1(1):101.

Chen JC, Ramachandran R, Goldhamer DJ. (2002) Essential and redundant functions of the MyoD distal regulatory region revealed by targeted mutagenesis. Dev Biol. 245(1):213-23.

Chen JC, Love CM, Goldhamer DJ. (2001) Two upstream enhancers collaborate to regulate the spatial patterning and timing of MyoD transcription during mouse development. Dev Dyn. Jul;221(3):274-88.

Contact Details:
email: jchen@bbri.org, tel. 617-658-7759