Kimberly D. Dyer, Ph.D.

Staff Scientist

Dr. Dyer received her Ph.D. from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Under the combined mentorship of Drs. Adam Myers and Helene Rosenberg, she investigated the transcriptional regulation of the Charcot-Leyden crystal protein gene. Prior to joining the Laboratory of Allergic Diseases in 2003 as a staff scientist, Dr. Dyer held a similar position in the Laboratory of Host Defenses, NIAID. Dr. Dyer has also performed research at George Washington University in Washington, DC, and at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD.

Description of Research Program

The primary focus of our laboratory's research program is the eosinophil, an enigmatic leukocyte whose role in pathophysiology is a subject of concern and controversy. Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) are among the toxic products secreted by activated eosinophils. From our interest in the eosinophil RNases, our lab has characterized many more members of the larger RNase A superfamily. One of our many goals is to understand the physiological role for the numerous members of this vertebrate-specific enzyme family and to investigate the regulation of these enzymes.

Major Areas of Research

• Molecular biology and evolution of the ribonuclease A gene superfamily
• Regulation of transcription of eosinophil genes
• Eosinophils, eosinophil ribonuclease, and innate immunity against respiratory viruses

Memberships

• The American Physiological Society
• The American Society of Cell Biologists

Selected Recent Publications

To view a complete listing, visit PubMed.

Dyer KD, Rosenberg HF. The mouse RNase 4 and RNase 5/ang 1 locus utilizes dual promoters for tissue-specific expression.
Nucleic Acids Res. 2005 Feb 18;33(3):1077-86.

Dyer KD, Rosenberg HF, Zhang J. Isolation, characterization, and evolutionary divergence of mouse RNase 6: evidence for unusual evolution in rodents. Journal of Molecular Evolution. 2004. 59(5): 657-665.

Dyer KD, Nitto T, Moreau JM, McDevitt AL, Rosenberg HF. Identification of a purine-rich intronic enhancer element in the mouse eosinophil-associated ribonuclease 2 (mEar 2) gene. Mammalian Genome. 2004. 15(2): 126-134.

McDevitt AL, Deming M, Rosenberg HF, Dyer KD. Gene structure and enzymatic activity of mouse eosinophil-associated ribonuclease 2. Gene. 2001. 267: 23-30.

Dyer KD, Rosenberg HF. Transcriptional regulation of galectin-10 (eosinophil Charcot-Leyden crystal protein): a GC box (-44 to -50) controls butyric acid induction of gene expression. Life Sciences. 2001. 69: 201-212.

Dyer KD, Rosenberg HF. Shared features of transcription: mutational analysis of the eosinophil/basophil Charcot-Leyden crystal protein gene promoter. Journal of Leukocyte Biology. 2001. 67: 691-698.

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