Craig L Peterson

Craig L. Peterson is a Professor at UMass Chan Medical School with appointments across multiple departments including Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, Program in Molecular Medicine, and various graduate programs within the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. His research focuses on understanding how chromosome structure influences nuclear processes through the study of ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling enzymes.

• Education: BS in Molecular Biology from University of Washington (1983)
• PhD in Molecular Biology from University of California, Los Angeles (1988)
• Postdoctoral Fellow at University of California, San Francisco (1988-1991)
• Faculty member at University of Massachusetts Medical School since 1992

Dr. Peterson's research investigates the mechanisms of ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling enzymes like SWI/SNF and INO80, which hydrolyze approximately 1,000 ATPs per minute to alter chromatin structure and regulate transcription, DNA repair, and replication. His work spans from yeast molecular genetics to biophysical and biochemical approaches, examining how these multi-subunit enzymes (often >1 MDa) are assembled and function. His laboratory also studies chromatin fiber dynamics and how histone modifications influence DNA repair, transcription, and replication processes.

Analysis of his recent publications shows a continued focus on chromatin remodeling complexes, with particular attention to nucleosome structure, histone variants like H2A.Z, and the interplay between chromatin dynamics and transcriptional regulation. His work demonstrates a consistent trajectory from fundamental mechanistic studies toward understanding how these processes maintain genome integrity in living cells.

Dr. Peterson has maintained an active research program with publications spanning from 2000 to the present, indicating sustained productivity and relevance in his field.

His laboratory employs diverse methodologies including yeast molecular genetics, analytical ultracentrifugation, molecular biology techniques, and traditional biochemistry to address complex questions about chromatin structure and function. This multidisciplinary approach has yielded significant insights into how cells maintain genome integrity through regulated chromatin dynamics.