Dr. Craig  M.  Hart is currently working as a Professor  in the Department of Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University , USA. His research interests includes Eukaryotic chromosomes,histone proteins, role of chromatin dynamics and nuclear organization,gene expression,methods of biochemistry, genetics, and molecular cell biology to understand the mechanisms of action of the class of chromosomal elements called chromatin domain insulator elements. He is serving as an editorial member and reviewer of several international reputed journals. Dr. Craig  M.  Hart is the member of many international affiliations. He has successfully completed his Administrative responsibilities. He has authored of many research articles/books related to Eukaryotic chromosomes,histone proteins, role of chromatin dynamics and nuclear organization,gene expression,methods of biochemistry, genetics, and molecular cell biology to understand the mechanisms of action of the class of chromosomal elements called chromatin domain insulator elements.

Eukaryotic chromosomes are packaged into chromatin, whose repeating nucleosomal substructure is composed of DNA wrapped around histone proteins. Nucleosomes interact with many other proteins to form dynamic, higher-order structures whose forms and functions are poorly understood. My research is focused on the formidable challenge of understanding the role of chromatin dynamics and nuclear organization in essential nuclear processes such as gene expression. My approach integrates the methods of biochemistry, genetics, and molecular cell biology to understand the mechanisms of action of the class of chromosomal elements called chromatin domain insulator elements (also called boundary elements). I am also interested in exploring the possibility that insulators can be developed into useful tools for reducing chromosomal position-effects on transgene expression levels in medical and research applications. Insulators define possible regulatory interactions within genomes. They block enhancer-promoter communication, but only when located between the enhancer and promoter. Many reviews have been written about insulators proposing mechanisms such as acting as promoter decoys; affecting chromatin structure or dynamics, perhaps by acting as roadblocks that stop the propagation of active or repressed chromatin states; forming anchor points of chromatin loop domains; and localizing to specific subnuclear domains, perhaps helping to organize those domains. To gain insight into molecular mechanisms of insulator function, I am focusing on the role of two proteins I previously purified as well as the insulators to which they bind. These related proteins, called BEAF-32A and BEAF-32B (Boundary Element-Associated Factors of 32 kDa, A form and B form), are produced from the same gene. 32A and 32B interact with each other and bind to sequences present in an abundant class of Drosophila insulators. Understanding how insulators limit communication between enhancers and promoters will address how enhancers find their target promoters, even when separated by tens of kilobases, without promiscuously interacting with other promoters. The role played by insulators in regulating enhancer-promoter interactions suggests they might play a broader role in the organization of chromosomes into functionally separate domains. Thus, understanding mechanisms governing insulator assembly and function should provide insight into the relationship between higher-order chromatin structure, nuclear organization, and gene regulation.