Faculty & Staff

Tanja Dominko

Research Assistant Professor

Faculty Listing
Office: Life Sciences and Bioengineering Center, 3004
Phone: +1-508-831-4108
Fax: +1-508-831-5936
tdominko@wpi.edu

WOUND HEALING AND REGENERATION
The significant fact that we have learned from studies in salamanders is that the ‘conductor’ for limb regeneration is the connective tissue fibroblast; fibroblasts are the cells that orchestrate regeneration in the adult salamander limb. Since both salamander and mammalian fibroblasts are primarily responsible for the injury response, despite dramatically different outcomes, modulating fibroblasts at the wound site is the key to triggering a regenerative response in humans.
Our research efforts explore biology beyond traditional paradigms in wound healing toward understanding the molecular regulation of fibroblasts’ nuclear memory in the context of its response to the clues received from its environment. Understanding how fibroblasts acquire, maintain and alter their function has unrealized potential to provide insights into regeneration.
We are developing and implementing molecular markers and model-based analyses to influence the ensuing developmental pathway underlying the adaptive phenotypic and functional change during wound healing. The goal of this research is to develop methods for de-differentiation of adult fibroblasts back into their pluripotent, precursor-like stage and encourage their participation in regeneration response instead of scar formation.

a. NUCLEAR PLASTICITY AND THE CELL CYCLE

We are exploring a working hypothesis that cell cycle dynamics plays an important role in determination of nuclear plasticity. Learning from events defined in embryos created by nuclear transplantation and regenerative responses in salamanders (collaboration with and Drs. David Gardiner and Sue Bryant, UC Irvine), we are investigating the involvement of cell cycle regulators in chromatin remodeling and gene expression in adult human fibroblasts. Specifically, we are interested in dynamics of histone modifications and expression of genes and proteins associated with regeneration response, such as Sox and Msx gene family members. (Collaboration with Dr. Ken Muneoka, Tulane University).

b. MOLECULAR BASIS OF REGENERATIVE COMPETENCE

In collaboration with Dr. Eugenia Wang (University of Louisville) we are examining proteomic, microRNA and mRNA signatures of regeneration-competent (urodeles) vs. incompetent (human) fibroblasts and de-differentiated fibroblasts. These analyses will identify proteins and protein families specifically up-regulated and down-regulated in association with a regeneration response. The comparison of mRNAs and microRNAs in these cells will enable us to ask questions about what role do these molecular regulators play in determination of cell phenotype and function.

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