Susan Strome

Professor of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology. Elucidated mechanisms by which germ cells of C. elegans establish and maintain identity. Discovered how cytoskeletal elements generate cytoplasmic asymmetries, essential for germ cell formation. Defined functions and composition of germ granules. Identified MES proteins required for germ cell survival, and discovered specific silencing of the X-chromosome via MES-protein-mediated chromatin modification. Research sheds light on roles of histone tail methylation across species; on how cells regulate chromatin states of domains and chromosomes; and on how mammalian homologs of MES proteins contribute to stem-cell biology and cancer.