Welcome to the Mowen Laboratory
With the completion of the human genome, we were humbled to find out that humans only have about 25,000 genes, which is only a few thousand more than a sea urchin. How can an organism with 100 trillion cells and 22 internal organs operate with about the same number of genes as a sea urchin? One way is to increase the diversity of the products of those genes (proteins) by chemically modifying proteins. While many of these modifications seem like very small changes, they can have profound effects on protein structure, function, localization, and stability.
In the Mowen lab, we study how two such modifications that target the amino acid arginine - arginine methylation and arginine deimination (also called citrullination) regulate the immune response against pathogens. To accomplish our studies, we combine molecular, biochemical, genetic, and chemical tools, capitalizing on the unique expertise of the TSRI community. We have found that these two modifications play important roles in inflammation. Our studies will help dissect the pathways that regulate inflammation so that we might be able to harness the power of the immune system – to dampen the immune response in autoimmunity, allergic responses, metabolic diseases, and transplant rejection and to boost the immune response during vaccination or for treating cancer.
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