Yuri Pekarsky, PhD

Assistant Professor

1090 Biomedical Research Tower

460 W 12th Ave

Columbus, OH 43210

614/292-4134

pekarsky.yuri@osumc.edu  

Research Interest:

Dr. Pekarsky’s research is focused on the investigation of function of TCL1 oncogene. Mature T-cell leukemia commonly shows chromosomal rearrangements at 14q32.1 including translocations t(14;14)(q11;q32), t(7;14)(q35;q32) and inversions inv(14)(q11;q32). The investigation of the locus in question at 14q32.1 resulted in the identification of two related genes named TCL1 and TCL1b. Both genes are activated in T-PLL/T-CLL by the chromosomal aberrations mentioned above. Tcl1 expression is also abnormally induced in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL), the most common leukemia in the world. Recently we discovered that biochemically, TCL1 works as a co-factor of the Akt kinase, a key regulator of antiapoptotic and proliferative signals. Tcl1 interacts physically with Akt, increases its kinase activity and facilitates its transport to the nucleus. The pathogenesis of T-PLL/T-CLL and B-CLL may also involve Nur77, a T-cell transcription factor required for T-cell receptor (TCR) mediated apoptosis. In our recent publication we demonstrate that Akt phosphorylates Nur77, thereby blocking its DNA-binding ability and rendering the transcription factor inactive. Currently we concentrate on studying of downstream events of this pathway as well as on the identification new pathways involving Tcl1 and Akt.

Education & Training:

1997 PhD  University of Colorado
2001 Post Doctoral, Thomas Jefferson University, Microbiology and Immunology

Selected Publications:

Calin GA, Pekarsky Y, Croce CM.  The role of microRNA and other non-coding RNA in the pathogenesis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.  Best Pract Res Clin Haematol. 2007 Sep;20(3):425-37. Review.

Aqeilan RI, Trapasso F, Hussain S, Costinean S, Marshall D, Pekarsky Y, Hagan JP, Zanesi N, Kaou M, Stein GS, Lian JB, Croce CM.  Targeted deletion of Wwox reveals a tumor suppressor function. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Mar 6;104(10):3949-54. Epub 2007 Feb 27.

Pekarsky Y, Santanam U, Cimmino A, Palamarchuk A, Efanov A, Maximov V, Volinia S, Alder H, Liu CG, Rassenti L, Calin GA, Hagan JP, Kipps T, Croce CM. Tcl1 expression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia is regulated by miR-29 and miR-181. Cancer Res. 2006 Dec 15;66(24):11590-3.

Gaudio E, Palamarchuk A, Palumbo T, Trapasso F, Pekarsky Y, Croce CM, Aqeilan RI.Physical association with WWOX suppresses c-Jun transcriptional activity. Cancer Res. 2006 Dec 15;66(24):11585-9.

Bianchi F, Magnifico A, Olgiati C, Zanesi N, Pekarsky Y, Tagliabue E, Croce CM, Ménard S, Campiglio M. FHIT-proteasome degradation caused by mitogenic stimulation of the EGF receptor family in cancer cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Dec 12;103(50):18981-6. Epub 2006 Dec 1.