David L. Spector

Spector is a pioneer in unraveling our understanding of the inner workings of the cell nucleus. Studies in his laboratory are focused on examining the organization and regulation of gene expression in living mammalian cells. His laboratory has developed and implemented innovative approaches to elucidate the spatial and temporal aspects of gene expression and in identifying and characterizing the function of nuclear retained long non-coding RNAs. His most seminal research accomplishments include the direct visualization in living cells of the recruitment of factors involved in gene expression to active genes; the development of a biochemical fractionation approach to purify a sub-nuclear domain (nuclear speckles) and characterize its protein constituents; the development of a live cell imaging system to visualize a stably integrated genetic locus and follow in real-time, its mRNA and protein products in living cells; the elucidation of a rapid-response mechanism of regulating gene expression through RNA nuclear retention; identification of a mechanism by which a single genetic locus can produce a long nuclear retained non-coding RNA and a small cytoplasmic tRNA-like transcript, the identification and characterization of a long nuclear retained non-coding RNA that is involved in organizing a sub-nuclear organelle (paraspeckles), and the identification and characterization of monoallelically expressed genes in mouse embryonic stem cells and neural progenitor cells. In addition, Spector has co-edited numerous microscopy techniques manuals (i.e. Basic Methods in Microscopy, Live Cell Imaging: A Laboratory Manual), and a treatise on The Nucleus, that are used in laboratories throughout the world.