Dr. Sakmar's research program focuses on the molecular mechanisms that control self-renewal and differentiation of stem cells. In collaboration with Prof. Ching-Hwa Sung of Weill-Cornell Medical College, Sakmar's lab has identified a novel G protein-regulatory molecule, AGS2/Tctex-l, which is enriched in neural stem cells of the developing neocortex. Dr. Sakmar's lab will characterize the functional interaction between AGS2/Tctex-1 and G proteins in neural stem cells and human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), and will elucidate the structural basis of the interaction to develop a screening strategy to search for small molecules that can modulate stem cell fate determination.
Janz JM, Sakmar TP, Min KC. A novel interaction between atrophin-interacting protein 4 and beta-p21-activated kinase-interactive exchange factor is mediated by an SH3 domain. J Biol Chem. 2007 Sep 28;282(39):28893-903. Epub 2007 Jul 25.
Sachdev P, Menon S, Kastner DB, Chuang JZ, Yeh TY, Conde C, Caceres A, Sung CH, Sakmar TP. G protein beta gamma subunit interaction with the dynein light-chain component Tctex-1 regulates neurite outgrowth.
EMBO J. 2007 Jun 6;26(11):2621-32. Epub 2007 May 10.