Position(s):
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Bioscience & Biotechnology

Office: 236 Stratton Hall

Phone: (215) 895-0220 (Office)
           
Email: fe22@drexel.edu

B.S. - George Washington University
M.S. - Hofstra University
Ph.D. - Temple University

Courses Taught

BIO 214: Principles of Cell Biology
BIO 244: Genetics I
BIO 451/680: Genetic Regulation of Development
BIO 480/680: Human Genetics
BIO 480/680: Stem Cell Research

My research group at Drexel University is focused on understanding the roles of two classes of chromatin regulatory proteins termed histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone demethylases. These proteins are key biological regulators that function by altering chromatin structure to control gene expression. As such, both of these chromatin regulators play essential roles in diverse biological processes including gene activation and repression, DNA repair and cell-cycle regulation. The importance of the function of these chromatin regulators during development is underscored by the numerous types of developmental disorders and cancers that arise from their misregulation. Despite these connections, little is known about the specialized roles that these proteins play in regulating the specific cellular processes and target genes required for proper multicellular development. To investigate the specificity and function of such chromatin regulators during development, my group uses the highly characterized Drosophila model system, as flies and humans share many structurally and functionally related gene families and developmental pathways. We have recently identified and cloned two essential human HAT homologs (dmTIP60 and dmELP3) as well as one essential human histone demethylase homolog (dmLSD1) in Drosophila, with the hypothesis that we may use these chromatin regulatory genes as “tools” to decipher specific human HAT function in development and epigenetic based diseases.

To view some of Dr. Elefant's published work [...click here...]

Post-Docs and Graduate Students

Xianmin Zhu: Functional characterization of the Tip60 histone acetyltransferase protein 
                   during development.
Neetu Singh: Functional characterization of the histone acetyltransferase ELP3 
                    during development. 
Viju Ramakrishnan: Tissue-specific regulation of histone acetyltransferases during 
                             embryogenesis.
Meridith Toth: The effects of producing dominant negative acting Tip60 histone 
                     acetyltransferase proteins in specific tissues of Drosophila during 
                     development.

Personal/Laboratory Website(s):