University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · GeneticsHistone Dynamics and Gene Regulation Lab
A. Gregory Matera · Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Research Focus
Dr. A. Gregory Matera's research lab at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill focuses on understanding how genes are regulated in multicellular organisms, specifically through studying the role of histone proteins and their modifications. By using fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) as a model system, the lab investigates how specific changes in histones affect development and gene expression. The goal is to uncover the mechanisms that control gene activity, which could ultimately lead to insights into diseases like cancer.
histone modificationsgene expressionepigeneticsDrosophilaRNA processingchromatindevelopmentmutationscancer research
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the role of histone post-translational modifications in gene regulation.
AIM 02Develop model systems in Drosophila to study gene expression control.
AIM 03Identify pathways affected by mutations in histone tails.
AIM 04Compare effects of histone modifications with chromatin modifying enzymes.
AIM 05Elucidate mechanisms of epigenetic regulation relevant to human diseases.
Skills the Lab Values
molecular geneticsbiochemistryRNA sequencinggenome editingcell cultureDrosophila handlingprotein assayshistone modification analysistranscription analysis
Output against the department
Publications247top 34% of dept.87th of 259
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations14ktop 41% of dept.106th of 259
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.