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Grant Schauer
Grant Schauer Assistant Professor

Office: Molecular Radiological Bioscie 231

Phone: (970) 491-2695

Education

  • Ph.D. Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University

About

Challenges to DNA replication, called replication stress, pose major risks to genome fidelity. Our lab studies the molecular mechanisms of various replication-coupled machines that help achieve accurate and efficient chromosome duplication in the face of such stress. We want to understand not only how these defense mechanisms operate to keep cells safe, but also how to potentialy disable these protective mechanisms during therapy that targets hyperoliferative cancer cells undergoing DNA replication. Current research topics include the replication checkpoint apparatus, replication-coupled translesion synthesis, and conflicts between replication forks with transcription bubbles and other R-loop proteins. We study these mechanisms in detail with traditional biochemistry involving reconstitution of replication from purified protein complexes, single-molecule fluorescence, genetic assays, and cell biology. 

I currently teach BC411 and BC511 (Physical Biochemistry) and BC512 (Principles of Macromolecular Structure). I have previously taught BC404 (Comprehensive Biochemistry Lab) as BC563 (Molecular Genetics).

Publications

  • Revised mechanism of hydroxyurea-induced cell cycle arrest and an improved alternativeShaw AE, Mihelich MN, Whitted JE, Reitman HJ, Timmerman AJ, Tehseen M, Hamdan SM, Schauer GD.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2024 Oct 15;121(42):e2404470121 (, 0
  • Tunability of DNA Polymerase Stability During Eukaryotic ReplicationLewis JS†, Spenkelink LM†, Schauer GD, Yurieva O, Natarajan V, Kaur G, Maher C, Kay C, O’Donnell ME, van Oijen AM.Molecular Cell, 2020 Jan 2; 77(1): 17-25.e5. †co-first author, 0
  • Replisome preservation by a single-stranded DNA gate in the CMG helicaseWasserman MR†, Schauer GD†, O’Donnell ME*, Liu S*Cell, 2019 Jul 25;178(3):600-611.e16. †co-first author; *co-corresponding author, 0
  • Single-molecule visualization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae leading-strand synthesis reveals dynamic interaction between MTC and the replisomeLewis JS†, Spenkelink LM†, Schauer GD, Hill FR, Georgescu RE, O’Donnell ME, van Oijen AMProc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2017 Oct 3;114(40):10630–10635. PMCID: PMC5635917; †co-first author, 0
  • Mcm10 promotes rapid isomerization of CMG-DNA for replisome bypass of lagging strand DNA blocksLangston LD, Mayle R, Schauer GD, Yurieva O, Zhang D, Yao NY, Georgescu RE, O’Donnell ME.eLife. 2017 Sep 4;6. PMCID: PMC5599239, 0
  • Reconstitution of a eukaryotic replisome reveals suppression mechanisms that define leading/lagging strand operationGeorgescu RE, Schauer GD, Yao NY, Langston LD, Yurieva O, Zhang D, Finkelstein J, O’Donnell ME. eLife. 2015 Apr 30. PMCID: PMC4413876, 0
  • Mechanism of allosteric inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase revealed by single-molecule and ensemble fluorescenceSchauer GD, Huber KD, Leuba SH, Sluis-Cremer N.Nucleic Acids Research. 2014 Oct;42(18):11687–11696. PMCID: PMC4191400, 0
  • Early integration of the individual student in academic activities: a novel classroom concept for graduate education in molecular biophysics and structural biology. Leuba SH, Carney SM, Dahlburg EM, Eells RJ, Ghodke H, Yanamala N, Schauer GD, Klein-Seetharaman J. BMC Biophysics. 2014;7:6. PMCID: PMC4134111, 0
  • PcrA-mediated disruption of RecA nucleoprotein filaments--essential role of the ATPase activity of RecAFagerburg MV, Schauer GD, Thickman KR, Bianco PR, Khan SA, Leuba SH, Anand SP.Nucleic Acids Research. 2012;40(17):8416-24. PMCID: PMC3458574, 0
  • Steric exclusion and wrapping of the excluded DNA strand occurs along discrete external binding paths during MCM helicase unwindingGraham BW, Schauer GD, Leuba SH, Trakselis MA.Nucleic Acids Research. 2011;39(15):6585-95. PMCID: PMC3159478, 0