Center for Reproductive Biology

Participating Faculty


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Name: Ray Reeves
Department: School of Molecular Biosciences
Credentials: 1971~Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, CA
Office: Biotechnology Life Sciences 143
Phone: 509-335-1948
Fax: 509-335-4159
Mailing Address: School of Molecular Biosciences
PO Box 647520
Pullman, WA 99164-7520
E-mail: reevesr@wsu.edu

Research Interests

Gene Regulation/Chromatin Structure & Function/Mammary
Gland/Cancer

Research Summary

Our research focuses primarily on the structure and function of eukaryotic chromatin and, more specifically, on the protein-DNA interactions involved in regulation; the transcriptional expression of mammalian genes.  For the last several years we have been studying the HMGA group of "high mobility" nonhistone chromosomal proteins; founding members of what have now become known as "architectural transcriptional factors" (i.e. proteins that are causally involved in directing the formation of 'stereospecific' DNA-protein complexes on the promoter regions of many mammalian genes in vivo.).  By forming such stereospecific promoter complexes, the HMGA proteins can regulate, either positively or negatively, gene transcriptional activity in vivo.  Given these properties, it is perhaps not surprising that the HMGA proteins are oncogenic and that their increased levels have been proposed as diagnostic markers for cancerous transformation and metastatic potential of a large number of different types of cancers.  Recently we discovered that HMGA1over-expression inhibits repair DNA lesions induced by both UV light and by oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide.  The inhibition of both nucleotide excision repair and base excision repair by HMGA1 proteins likely contributes to the accumulation of mutations and chromosomal aberrations that are almost universal characteristics of cancer cells.  Our laboratory employs a variety of biochemical, biophysical and biological techniques to investigate how HMGA1 proteins function in both normal and malignant cells.  

Research Publications

2005-2009

Mao, L., K.J. Wertzler, S.C. Maloney, Z. Wang, N.S. Magnuson, and R. Reeves, HMGA1 Levels Influence Mitochondrial Function and mtDNA Repair Efficiency. Mol Cell Biol, 2009 Aug. 17 (Epub ahead of print].

Adair, J.E., S.C. Maloney, G.A. Dement, K.J. Wertzler, M.J. Smerdon, and R. Reeves, High-mobility group A1 proteins inhibit expression of nucleotide excision repair factor xeroderma pigmentosum group A. Cancer Res, 2007. 67(13): p. 6044-52.

Dement, G.A., S.C. Maloney, and R. Reeves, Nuclear HMGA1 nonhistone chromatin proteins directly influence mitochondrial transcription, maintenance, and function. Exp Cell Res, 2007. 313(1): p. 77-87.

Maloney, S.C., J.E. Adair, M.J. Smerdon, and R. Reeves, Gene-specific nucleotide excision repair is impaired in human cells expressing elevated levels of high mobility group A1 nonhistone proteins. DNA Repair (Amst), 2007. 6(9): p. 1371-9.

Dement, G.A., N.R. Treff, N.S. Magnuson, V. Franceschi, and R. Reeves, Dynamic mitochondrial localization of nuclear transcription factor HMGA1. Exp Cell Res, 2005. 307(2): p. 388-401.

Edberg, D.D., J.N. Adkins, D.L. Springer, and R. Reeves, Dynamic and differential in vivo modifications of the isoform HMGA1a and HMGA1b chromatin proteins. J Biol Chem, 2005. 280(10): p. 8961-73.

Reeves, R. and J.E. Adair, Role of high mobility group (HMG) chromatin proteins in DNA repair. DNA Repair (Amst), 2005. 4(8): p. 926-38.

Miranda TB, Webb KJ, Edberg DD, Reeves R, Clarke S.  2005 Protein arginine methyltransferase 6 specifically methylates the non-histone chromatin protein HMGA1a. Biochem Biophys Res Commun.  336(3):831-5.

Adair JE, Kwon Y, Dement GA, Smerdon MJ, Reeves R.  2005 Inhivition of nucleotide excision repair by high mobility group protein HMGA1.  J Biol Chem. 280(37):32184-92.


Center for Reproductive Biology, PO Box 647521, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-7521, 509-335-2473, Contact Us