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. 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 molecular mechanisms in detail with single-molecule fluorescence techniques, traditional biochemistry, genetics, and cell biology.
I currently teach BC404 (Comprehensive Biochemistry Lab) as well as sections in BC563 (Molecular Genetics) and BC512 (Principles of Macromolecular Structure)
Publications
- Tunability of DNA Polymerase Stability During Eukaryotic ReplicationMolecular Cell, 2020 Jan 2; 77(1): 17-25.e5. †co-first author,
- Replisome preservation by a single-stranded DNA gate in the CMG helicaseCell, 2019 Jul 25;178(3):600-611.e16. †co-first author; *co-corresponding author,
- Nuclease dead Cas9 is a programmable roadblock for DNA replicationSci Rep. 2019 Sep 16;9(1):13292, 2019
- Single-molecule visualization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae leading-strand synthesis reveals dynamic interaction between MTC and the replisomeProc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2017 Oct 3;114(40):10630–10635. PMCID: PMC5635917; †co-first author,
- Mcm10 promotes rapid isomerization of CMG-DNA for replisome bypass of lagging strand DNA blockseLife. 2017 Sep 4;6. PMCID: PMC5599239,
- Reconstitution of a eukaryotic replisome reveals suppression mechanisms that define leading/lagging strand operationeLife. 2015 Apr 30. PMCID: PMC4413876,
- Mechanism of allosteric inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase revealed by single-molecule and ensemble fluorescenceNucleic Acids Research. 2014 Oct;42(18):11687–11696. PMCID: PMC4191400,
- Early integration of the individual student in academic activities: a novel classroom concept for graduate education in molecular biophysics and structural biology. BMC Biophysics. 2014;7:6. PMCID: PMC4134111,
- PcrA-mediated disruption of RecA nucleoprotein filaments--essential role of the ATPase activity of RecANucleic Acids Research. 2012;40(17):8416-24. PMCID: PMC3458574,
- Steric exclusion and wrapping of the excluded DNA strand occurs along discrete external binding paths during MCM helicase unwindingNucleic Acids Research. 2011;39(15):6585-95. PMCID: PMC3159478,