Elaine T. Alarid, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Department of Oncology

alarid@oncology.wisc.edu

Trainer in the Following Programs:

  • Cancer Biology Graduate Training Program
  • Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology (First Year Advising Committee)
  • Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (Admissions Committee)
  • Cellular and Molecular Biology (Steering and Minority Affairs Committee)
  • Medical Sciences Training Program (Steering Committee)

Awards and Honors:

  • University of Wisconsin Institute for Clinical and Translational Research
  • University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Minority Action Committee of the Endocrine Society member
  • NCI Cancer Biomarkers Study Section member
  • 1992 - Ford Foundation Post-doctoral Fellow

Research Description: Molecular mechanisms of steroid hormone action
The focus of our research is on understanding the molecular mechanisms governing the activity of estrogen receptor (ER), a member of the nuclear receptor transcription factor family that is critical in normal reproduction and is implicated in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. ER is an intracellular receptor that when activated by estrogen and other estrogen-like compounds, binds directly to DNA and activates or represses gene transcription. It serves as an important model for the understanding of basic mechanisms of transcription, as well as the regulatory pathways that control the cellular responses to steroid hormones. Currently, we are pursuing projects that address the role of post-translational regulation in the control of ERa protein activity, with emphasis on proteasome-mediated proteolysis. Experiments are aimed at better defining the signals that target ER for destruction and understanding how protein stability affects ERa transcriptional function. In trying to elucidate the link between protein stability and transactivation, our research has identified novel regulatory and activation mechanisms for ERa and is placed into an emerging model of a “transcriptional clock” (Figure 1) that explores the dynamics and specificity of macromolecular complexes governing gene expression.


Selected Publications: Articles on PubMed
  • Valley CC, Solodin N, Powers G, and Alarid ET. (2008). Temporal variation in estrogen receptor-Éø protein turnover in the presence of estrogen. J Mol Endocrinol. 40:23-34.

  • Fowler AM and Alarid ET. (2007). Amping up estrogen receptors in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res. 9:305. PMID 17705882

  • Weinberg AL, Carter D, Ahonen M, Alarid ET, Murdoch FE, and Fritsch MK. (2007). The DNA binding domain of estrogen receptor alpha is required for high-affinity nuclear interaction induced by estradiol. Biochemistry. 46:8933-8942. PMID 17630774

  • Jiang X, Ellison SJ, Alarid ET, and Shapiro DJ. (2007). Interplay between the levels of estrogen and estrogen receptor controls the level of the granzyme inhibitor, proteinase inhibitor 9 and susceptibility to immune surveillance by natural killer cells. Oncogene. 26:4106-4114 PDF PMID 17237823

  • Alarid ET. (2006). Lives and times of nuclear receptors. Mol Endocrinol. 20:1972-1981. PDF PMID 16423879

  • Fowler AM, Solodin NM, Valley CC, and Alarid ET. (2006). Altered target gene regulation controlled by estrogen receptor-alpha concentration. Mol Endocrinol. 20:291-301. PDF PMID 16179380

  • Valley CC, Metivier R, Solodin NM, Fowler AM, Mashek MT, Hill L, and Alarid ET. (2005). Differential regulation of estrogen-inducible proteolysis and transcription by the estrogen receptor a N terminus.  Mol Cel Biol. 13:5417-5428. PDF PMID 15964799

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