Lab Stuff-

Research Interests

ODC Resources

C. V.

Publications
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Welcome to Andy Butler's laboratory.

This page provides an overview of the research done in my lab, as well as a peek at some of my other interests. While you are in the neighborhood, please help yourself to a fortune cookie.
Please Note: because all the fortunes were used by certain graduate students (you know who you are), more have been added. New Cookies added: There are now 1549 fortunes).

Research

Research in my laboratory deals with the regulation of genes involved in multi-stage carcinogenesis, particularly with regard to development of skin cancer. These investigations include studies of both transcriptional regulation and signal transduction.

Many of our studies use a non-mammalian model to investigate genetic susceptibility of melanoma development, i.e. Xiphophorus backcross hybrids. These small fish provide excellent systems to analyze genetic determinants of both spontaneous and UV-induced melanoma. We are collaborating with Dr. Rodney Nairn at Science Park, and researchers at the Xiphophorus Stock Center at Texas State University in San Marcos, to investigate the regulation of G1 checkpoint genes, particularly the cell cycle inhibitor CDKN2AB, and their role in melanomagenesis. A review of these studies was recently published.

We are also investigating the regulation of Forkhead (FoxO) transcription factors, their regulation and function in cell cycle control and apoptosis, and their role in development of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. In a recent paper, we cloned a FoxO transcription factor from Xiphophorus, and investigated its effect on cell growth in melanoma cells. For more details of our work, follow the links in the left column of this page.

Another gene we have been interested in is Ornithine Decarboxylase (ODC). We have conducted extensive studies on the transcriptional regulation of ODC; see our Publications Page for links to several of these studies. Some of the sequences of our most commonly requested plasmids are now available on our ODC Resources Page.

By Snailmail:	 
               Andrew P. Butler
               Univ. of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Ctr    
               Science Park-Research Division
               1808 Park Rd. 1C, Box 389
               Smithville, TX 78957
By Telephone:   512-237-9461
By Fax:            512-237-9566
By E-mail:        butler@mdanderson.org