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Yuri Pekarsky PhD


Yuri Pekarsky PhD
Research Asst ProfessorCollege of MedicinePekarsky.yuri@osumc.edu
1090 BRT 460 W 12th Avenue Columbus OH 43210-
Phone:614-292-4134Fax:
  • Molecular Biology and Cancer Genetics

General Research Interest

Molecular mechanisms of the pathohenesis of leukemias and lymphomas

Research Description

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. 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 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.

Current Publications

  • Zanesi N, Balatti V, Riordan J, Burch A, Rizzotto L, Palamarchuk A, Cascione L, Lagana A, Dupuy AJ, Croce CM, Pekarsky YA Sleeping Beauty screen reveals NF-kB activation in CLL mouse model.Blood in press 4/16/2013
  • Balatti V, Lerner S, Rizzotto L, Rassenti LZ, Bottoni A, Palamarchuk A, Cascione L, Alder H, Keating MJ, Kipps TJ, Pekarsky Y, Croce CMTrisomy 12 CLLs progress through NOTCH1 mutations.Leukemia 27(3) 740-3 3/1/2013
  • Palamarchuk A, Yan PS, Zanesi N, Wang L, Rodrigues B, Murphy M, Balatti V, Bottoni A, Nazaryan N, Alder H, Rassenti L, Kipps TJ, Freitas M, Croce CM, Pekarsky YTcl1 protein functions as an inhibitor of de novo DNA methylation in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 109(7) 2555-60 2/14/2012
  • Balatti V, Bottoni A, Palamarchuk A, Alder H, Rassenti LZ, Kipps TJ, Pekarsky Y, Croce CMNOTCH1 mutations in CLL associated with trisomy 12.Blood 119(2) 329-31 1/12/2012
  • Gaudio E, Spizzo R, Paduano F, Luo Z, Efanov A, Palamarchuk A, Leber AS, Kaou M, Zanesi N, Bottoni A, Costinean S, Rassenti LZ, Nakamura T, Kipps TJ, Aqeilan RI, Pekarsky Y, Trapasso F, Croce CMTcl1 interacts with Atm and enhances NF-κB activation in hematologic malignancies.Blood 119(1) 180-7 1/5/2012
  • Pekarsky Y, Croce CM, Bottoni A, Zanesi N, Balatti VNovel insights in molecular mechanisms of CLL.Curr Pharm Des 18(23) 3363-72 1/1/2012
  • Havelange V, Pekarsky Y, Nakamura T, Palamarchuk A, Alder H, Rassenti L, Kipps T, Croce CMIRF4 mutations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.Blood 118(10) 2827-9 9/8/2011