Cameron Schmitz (PhD Student)

schmitz [at] wi.mit.edu
Publications

Cells sense and respond to stress using the heat shock response, whereby heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) induces expression of target protein chaperones. HSF1 also forms micron-sized bodies associated with repetitive satellite III DNA containing tandem heat shock elements. Extensive HSF1 relocalization forms the ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granule referred to as a nuclear stress body. Formation of nuclear stress bodies is concomitant with extensive satellite III RNA transcription. The mechanism for nuclear stress body formation and what role they serve in cells is currently unknown. I utilize advanced fluorescence microscopy techniques to study the molecular basis of their formation, as well as genetic perturbations and inducible RNA expression systems for studying their function in cells.