Kathleen
J. Green, PhD
Joseph
L Mayberry Sr. Professor
Department of Pathology
To Contact Dr. Green:
phone: 312-503-5300
e-mail: kgreen@northwestern.edu
Dr. Green's website
PubMed
Reference Lookup
Research Interests
Dr. Green’s research program is directed toward elucidating
the structure and function of epithelial adhesion molecules and adhesive structures
in tissue morphogenesis and differentiation, as well as in pathological processes
such as cancer, autoimmune and inherited disease. A particular focus is on
the assembly and regulation of an intercellular junction called the desmosome,
which is the most prominent adhesive structure in complex epithelial tissues
such as the epidermis.
Green’s work was
instrumental in the discovery of a new gene family, now called the plakin
family. In addition, this work helped facilitate the identification of human
genetic diseases affecting the skin and heart, resulting from mutations in
the one of the plakin genes, called desmoplakin.