Carol F. Webb, PhD, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Dr. Webb's long-term goal has been to develop a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in B lymphocyte development and antibody production. A major focus of the lab has been to understand the function of the ARID (A+T interaction domain, AT-rich interaction domain) family member ARID3a, or Bright (B cell regulator of immunoglobulin transcription), in this process. Several years ago wthey showed that Bright upregulates immunoglobulin heavy chain transcription as a member of a protein complex containing Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) and the ubiquitously expressed transcription factor TFII-I. Deficiencies in Btk result in immunodeficiency disease in both mice and humans and some of her work has focused on how inhibition of Bright function may cause immunodeficiency.
Products
References:
- Nixon JC, Rajaiya JB, Ayers N, Evetts S, Webb CF. The transcription factor, Bright, is not expressed in all human B lymphocyte subpopulations. Cell Immunol. 2004 Mar;228(1):42-53.
- Rajaiya J, Hatfield M, Nixon JC, Rawlings DJ, Webb CF. Bruton's tyrosine kinase regulates immunoglobulin promoter activation in association with the transcription factor Bright. Mol Cell Biol. 2005 Mar;25(6):2073-84.
