Nucleolar activity is exquisitely responsive to growth and hormonal stimuli.
The nucleoli of cancer cells are pleomorphic and much larger than those of normal cells. We have been studying the protein and RNA components of the nucleoli and have isolated, sequenced and characterized nucleolar proteins and RNAs unique to the nucleolus. The complementarity between the snoRNAs and the pre-ribosomal RNA appears to play an important role in the processing reactions. The functions of some protein components are now being determined with the aid of monoclonal antibodies. The focus of the laboratory is to utilize the molecular biological and biochemical data on structure and function of these important, conserved nucleolar proteins, for the development of improved cancer diagnostic tests and development of cancer treatment modalities.