Graduation Date

Spring 5-9-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Programs

Molecular Genetics & Cell Biology

First Advisor

Kyle Hewitt

Abstract

Erythropoiesis is a tightly regulated process by which red blood cells (RBCs) are formed from hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). Essential regulators of hematopoiesis include transcription factors (e.g., GATA1 and GATA2) and growth factors (e.g., erythropoietin (Epo) and its Receptor (EpoR), and stem cell factor (SCF)/Kit), which fine-tune cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival (Bresnick et al., 2010; Munugalavadla & Kapur, 2005). Our lab has identified SAM-domain containing protein-1 (SAMD1) to be highly expressed in HSPCs and regulates the expression of key hematopoietic genes (GATA2, BCL11A, SLC4A1) (Schaefer et al., 2025). SAMD1 interacts with the enzyme lysine demethylase LSD1, which removes single or di-methylation groups from histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4) (Schaefer et al., 2025; Stielow, Zhou, et al., 2021). While SAMD1 plays a key role in gene regulation and histone methylation patterns in differentiating cells and is highly expressed in erythroid progenitors, its role in erythropoiesis remains unclear (Campbell et al., 2023; Schaefer et al., 2025; Stielow, Zhou, et al., 2021). Current studies on SAMD1 have identified its role in chromatin modeling, gene regulation, and cell signaling (Campbell et al., 2023; Geller et al., 2025; Schaefer et al., 2025; Stielow, Zhou, et al., 2021). This thesis will elaborate on these mechanisms using rescue assays and establish the structural determinants for SAMD1 function in hematopoiesis and erythropoiesis. We also describe findings on SAMD1 and LSD1 independent function in regulating erythroid differentiation.

Rights

The author holds the copyright to this work and any reuse or permissions must be obtained from the author directly.

Download

Available for download on Saturday, April 22, 2028

Share

COinS