Spring 2009: John Hopkins public health professor talks about DNA repair

Monday, April 27, 10-11 a.m.
Rasmuson Hall, Room 111

Please join us on Monday, April 27 from 10-11 a.m. in Rasmuson Hall room 111 for a seminar presented by Les Hanakahi, assistant professor from Johns Hopkins University Bloomburg School of Public Health. His topic is, Little things that do a lot: Inositol Polyphosphates in DNA Repair.

Professor Hanakahi writes: "The repair of DNA Double-Strand Breaks (DSB) is central to the maintenance of genomic integrity. Failure to repair a double-strand break can result in the loss of genetic information or genetic rearrangements that can lead to carcinogenesis. In humans, Non-Homologous End-Joining (NHEJ) repairs most DSBs. The focus of my research is to understand, in molecular detail, how exposed DNA ends are recognized, protected from degradation and efficiently re-joined during NHEJ. Of particular interest is the role of inositol polyphosphates, which can act as stimulators of NHEJ in vitro. Characterization of the role played by these small molecule effectors of the mammalian NHEJ reaction may have application in areas such as gene therapy, gene targeting and drug design."

For our off-campus guests, please note that parking on the UAA campus is available in UAA's Parking Garage located between the Social Sciences and Science buildings. Come join us!