Max Gottesman
Max Gottesman
e-mail:
affiliation: Columbia University Medical Center
research area(s): Molecular Biology
Course: Molecular Pathology and Pathophysiology
University/Istitution: Università di Napoli Federico II
M.D. 1960, Yale University
Ph.D. 1965, Yale University
Postdoctoral Fellow 1960-1964, National Institute of Health

Present position:
REVSON PROFESSOR OF BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOPHYSICS & MICROBIOLOGY
Department of Genetics and Development
Columbia University Medical Center
Regulation of transcription termination in E. coli and bacteriophage; role of cAMP in cell cycle progession and signal transduction in eukaryotes; vitamin A metabolism in the mouse.

My laboratory has been studying the E. coli virus, lambda, and its relatives. Our focus has been the inhibition of lambda gene expression by phage HK022 Nun protein. Nun binds to specific sequences in lambda nascent mRNA and blocks translocation of RNA polymerase. Nun also contacts lambda DNA template just promoter-distal to the stalled RNA polymerase. Nun binds Zn++ and may coordinate this ion with RNA polymerase. Genetic, biochemical and structural studies of this unusual reaction are underway.

The subcellular location of PKA is of critical importance in transmission of cAMP signals. How PKA anchoring proteins (AKAPs) affects cAMP signal transduction is being investigated in cultured cell lines.
1. Kim, H.C. and Gottesman, M.E.: (2004) Transcription Termination by Phage HK022 Nun Is Facilitated by C-terminal Lysine Residues. J. Biol. Chem 279: 13412-7

2. Feliciello, A., Gottesman, M.E., and Avvedimento, E.V. : (2005) cAMP-PKA signaling to the mitochondria: protein scaffolds, mRNA and phosphatases. Cellular Signalling 17: 279-287

3. Kim, H.C., Washburn, R.S, and Gottesman M.E. : (2006) Role of E. coli NusA in Phage HK022 Nun-mediated Transcription Termination. J. Mol. Biol 359: 10-12

4. Björn M. Burmann B, Schweimer K, Luo X, Wahl MC, Stitt BL Gottesman ME, and Rösch P: (2010) A NusG:NusE complex links transcription and translation. Science (in press)
No projects are available to students for the current accademic year.