DeKoter Lab
The goal of our research is to identify genetic causes of diseases affecting the immune system, including primary immunodeficiency and leukemia. These diseases can be caused by mutation of genes encoding transcription factors. We are particularly interested in highly related transcription factors of the E26 transformation-specific (ETS) family called PU.1, Spi-B, and Spi-C. These proteins play diverse roles in regulating development and function of B lymphocytes and myeloid cells. We use a variety of methods to perform these studies including genetically modified mouse models, primary cell culture, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and gene expression analysis. Please follow the links to learn more about our current research activities.
Our research team currently includes two graduate students, one postdoctoral fellow, one research technician, three undergraduate students, and two high school students. Our laboratory regularly accepts undergraduates as summer students, honors thesis students, or scholars elective students. We are funded by operating grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada.
Picture taken August 19, 2022: Allanna Mackenzie, Bruno Rodrigues de Oliveira, Joshua Yi, Rodney DeKoter, Theodore Zhu, James Iasavitchous. Front Row: Heidi Rysan, Sheena Yi, Sherry Xu, Mia Sams.
Congratulations to Mia for her poster prize at Child Health Research Day 2022 and for successful defense of her MSc thesis in June 2022.
Congratulations to Hannah for her poster prizes at Child Health Research Day 2021 and the Canadian Society for Immunology Spring Meeting 2021.
Congratulations to Cathy, Jane, and Michael for their admission to medical schools in fall 2021.
Thank you to the London Regional Cancer Program for awarding us a Catalyst grant in 2020-2022 to support our leukemia research project.
Michelle Lim's article was chosen by Molecular and Cellular Biology for a spotlight as an "Article of significant interest in this issue." Link
Raczkowski et al., The E26 transformation-specific family transcription factor Spi-C is dynamically regulated by external signals in B cells. Funded by NSERC 142258 Immunohorizons
Raczkowski and DeKoter, Lineage-instructive functions of the E26-transformation-specific-family transcription factor Spi-C in immune cell development and disease. Funded by NSERC 142258 and CIHR 106581 WIRES Mechanisms of Disease
Lim et al., Janus kinase mutations in mice lacking PU.1 and Spi-B drive B cell leukemia through reactive oxygen species-induced DNA damage. Funded by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada 569086 and CIHR 142258 PubMed
Laramée et al., Opposing roles for the related ETS-family transcription factors Spi-B and Spi-C in regulating B cell Differentiation and Function. Frontiers in Immunology 11:841. Funded by CIHR 106581 and 142258 and NSERC 04749-2016. Frontiers in Immunology
We work on proteins called transcription factors and their role in gene regulation during B cell and macrophage development. Transcription factors such as PU.1, Spi-B, and Spi-C play roles in immune development and in diseases such as immune deficiency. Click here to learn more!
