Zhu Lab

Jiyue Zhu, Ph.D.

Lab Interest:

Our laboratory studies the epigenetic and chromatin regulation of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene, which plays critical roles in stem cell self-renewal, aging, and cancer. Whereas telomerase mutations causes premature aging, its activation leads to limitless cell proliferation, a hallmark of all cancers. The ongoing projects focus on the identification of epigenetic elements and regulatory proteins involved in telomerase regulation during stem cell differentiation, nuclear reprogramming, and tumorigenesis, using models of normal and cancer cells, adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and transgenic mice.

Program Affiliations:
Physiology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Integrative Biosciences.
PH: 717-531-3597; e-mail: joz1@psu.edu