Laura E. Hake

Laura E. Hake is an Associate Professor in the Biology Department at Boston College. Her research focuses on translational regulation and signal transduction mechanisms during meiosis and early animal development, particularly in Xenopus oocytes. She investigates how mRNA polyadenylation influences protein synthesis and coordinates with hormonal signals to trigger meiotic resumption.

Education: Ph.D., Tufts University.

Research Interests: Dr. Hake studies cytoplasmic polyadenylation-induced translation (CPISMe), focusing on CPEB protein regulation, XGef signaling pathways, and the role of MAPK in meiotic progression. Her work uses Xenopus oocytes as a model system, leveraging microinjection and biochemical assays to dissect molecular mechanisms.

Key Projects: Current studies explore CPEB phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and interactions with XGef—a Rho-GEF protein critical for activating Aurora A kinase. These pathways link progesterone signaling to c-mos mRNA translation, driving maturation promoting factor (MPF) activation.

Labs/Teams: Research conducted in Higgins Hall, Boston College, using interdisciplinary approaches including phosphopeptide analysis, yeast two-hybrid screens, and in vivo oocyte manipulation.