Research & Scholarship
Research Associate, Department of Craniofacial Biology (June 2006-Feb 2012)
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado. (August 2005-June 2006)
Principal investigator: Dr. Trevor Williams
Use mouse and zebrafish models to analyze gene function during craniofacial development. Lab management duties: grant and manuscript preparation, and training and guidance of graduate students.
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado. (June 2002-February 2003, June 2004 -July 2005) Advisor: Dr. Dean Edwards.
Comparative analysis of the molecular mechanism of a synthetic progestin in breast- and uterine-derived cell lines.
Ph.D. in the Program in Molecular Biology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado. (1995-May 2002)
Advisor: Dr. Dean Edwards.
Use of molecular biology to understand the selective effect of HMG-1/-2 on steroid receptor DNA binding and transactivation.
Professional Research Assistant, Monoclonal Antibody Core Laboratory, Cancer Center, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado. (May 1993-July 1995) Supervisor: Kurt Christensen.
Production of monoclonal antibodies and expression of recombinant proteins in baculovirus.
Publications (Articles):
Senkus Melvin, V., Feng, W., Hernandez, A., Artinger, K.B., Williams, T. A morpholino-based screen to identify novel genes involved in craniofacial morphogenesis. In preparation.
Johnson, C.J., Hernandez, A., Feng, W., Senkus Melvin, V., Williams, T., and Artinger, K.B. (2011) Vgll2a is required for neural crest cell survival during zebrafish craniofacial development. Dev. Biol. 357: 269-281.
Forni, P.E., Taylot-Burds, C., Senkus Melvin, V., Williams, T., and Wray, S. (2011) Neural Crest and Ectodermal Cells Intermix in the Nasal Placode to Give Rise to GnRH-1 Neurons, Sensory Neurons, and Olfactory Ensheathing Cells. J. Neurosci. 18:6915-6927.
Reid, B.S., Yang, H., Senkus Melvin, V., Taketo, M.M., and Williams, T. (2011) Ectodermal Wnt/-catenin signaling shapes the mouse face. Dev. Biol. 349:261-9.
Senkus Melvin, V., Harrell, C, Adelman, J.S., Kraus, W.L., Churchill, M., and Edwards, D.P. (2004) The role of the C-terminal extension (CTE) of the estrogen receptor and DNA binding domain in DNA binding and interaction with HMGB. J. Biol. Chem. 279:14763-14771.
Senkus Melvin, V., and Edwards, D.P. (2002) The carboxyl-terminal extension (CTE) of the nuclear hormone receptor DNA binding domain determines interactions and functional response to the HMGB-1/-2 coregulatory proteins. J. Biol. Chem. 277:25115-25124.
Schultz, J.R., Loven, M.A., Senkus Melvin, V.M., Edwards, D.P., and Nardulli, A.M. (2002) Differential modulation of DNA conformation by estrogen receptors and . J. Biol. Chem. 277: 8702-8707.
Senkus Melvin, V., and Edwards, D.P. (1999) Coregulatory proteins in steroid hormone receptor action: The role of chromatin high mobility group proteins, HMG-1 and -2. Steroids. 64: 576-586.
Boonyaratanakornkit, V.*, Melvin, V.*, Prendergast, P.*, Altmann, M., Ronfani, L., Bianchi, M.E., Taraseviciene, L., Nordeen, S.K., Allegretto, E.A., and Edwards, D.P. (1998) High-mobility group chromatin proteins 1 and 2 functionally interact with steroid hormone receptors to enhance their DNA binding in vitro and transcriptional activity in mammalian cells. Mol. Cell. Biol. 18: 4471-4487. *These authors contributed equally.
Publications (Book Chapters)
Senkus Melvin, V., and Edwards, D.P. (2001) Expression and purification of recombinant human progesterone receptor in baculovirus and bacterial systems. In: Steroid Receptor Methods and Protocols, Humana Press.
Publications (Abstracts)
Senkus Melvin V., Taiyab, A., Reid, B.S. and Williams, T. (2011) Epithelial-mesenchymal signaling interactions coordinating limb and face patterning. Mouse Molecular Genetics, Wellcome Trust Conference Center, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK.
Senkus Melvin V., Feng, W., Hernandex, A., Artinger, K.B., and Williams, T. (2009) Mouse and Zebrafish Models to Screen Genes Involved in Craniofacial Development. Gordon Research Conference on Craniofacial Biology, Il Ciocco, Italy.
Senkus Melvin, V., and Edwards, D.P. (1999) HMG-1/-2 selectively influences DNA binding of steroid hormone receptors by functionally substituting for the minor groove DNA interface intrinsic to other nuclear receptors. Gordon Research Conference on Hormone Action, Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, NH.
Boonyaratanakornkit, V., Melvin, V., Leonhardt, S.A., and Edwards, D.P. (1998) The role of chromatin HMG proteins in steroid receptor action. Keystone Symposium on the Nuclear Receptor Gene Family, Incline Village, NV.
Boonyaratanakornkit, V., Melvin, V., P. Prendergast, P., Allegretto, E., Wilson, E.M., Taraseviciene, L., Nordeen, S.K., and Edwards, D.P. (1997) HMG-1 protein facilitates DNA binding and transcriptional activation of the steroid hormone subgroup of intracellular receptors. The Endocrine Society 79th Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN.
Presentations:
Senkus Melvin, V., and Edwards, D.P. (2001) The role of the C-terminal extension from the steroid receptor DNA binding domain in DNA binding affinity and binding site preference. The Endocrine Society 83rd Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.
Senkus Melvin, V., and Edwards, D.P. (1999) HMG-1/-2 selectively influences DNA binding of steroid hormone receptors by functionally substituting for the minor groove DNA interface intrinsic to other nuclear receptors. The Endocrine Society 81st Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.