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18		<div style="display: contents"><!--[--><!--[0--><!--[--><!--[--><!--$s1--><!----> <div class="flex min-h-screen flex-col"><header><div class="grid h-80 bg-[url('/dna.png')] bg-cover bg-fixed bg-top bg-no-repeat"><div class="mt-auto"><div class="grid grid-cols-[1fr_auto] bg-contain bg-right bg-no-repeat md:bg-[url('/badge.png')]"><h1 class="text-6xl font-thin">

18Zhao Lab</h1> <label for="s1-openMenu" class="aspect-square translate-y-1 md:hidden"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide-icon lucide lucide-menu size-full"><!--[--><!----><path d="M4 5h16"><!----></path><!----><!----><path d="M4 12h16"><!----></path><!----><!----><path d="M4 19h16"><!----></path><!----><!--]--><!----><!----></svg><!----> <span class="sr-only">Open menu</span></label></div> <input type="radio" id="s1-openMenu" name="s1-menuToggle" class="peer sr-only md:hidden"/> <input type="radio" id="s1-closeMenu" name="s1-menuToggle" class="sr-only md:hidden"/> <nav class="inset-0 z-10 w-full peer-checked:block max-md:fixed max-md:hidden max-md:h-screen max-md:bg-white md:shadow-inner md:backdrop-blur-xs"><ul class="grid-flow-col max-md:space-y-4 md:grid"><li><a class="[--my-sibling-index:0] inline-block text-6xl decoration-from-font max-md:my-animate-bounce max-md:font-thin max-md:underline md:size-full md:p-4 md:text-center md:text-base" href="../">Home</a></li> <li><a class="[--my-sibling-index:1] inline-block text-6xl decoration-from-font max-md:my-animate-bounce max-md:font-thin max-md:underline md:size-full md:p-4 md:text-center md:text-base" href="../positions/">Positions</a></li> <li><a class="[--my-sibling-index:2] inline-block text-6xl decoration-from-font max-md:my-animate-bounce max-md:font-thin max-md:underline md:size-full md:p-4 md:text-center md:text-base" href="../research/">Research</a></li> <li><a class="[--my-sibling-index:3] inline-block text-6xl decoration-from-font max-md:my-animate-bounce max-md:font-thin max-md:underline md:size-full md:p-4 md:text-center md:text-base" href="../people/">People</a></li> <li><a class="[--my-sibling-index:4] inline-block text-6xl decoration-from-font max-md:my-animate-bounce max-md:font-thin max-md:underline md:size-full md:p-4 md:text-center md:text-base" href="../publications/">Publications</a></li><!----></ul> <label for="s1-closeMenu" class="md:hidden"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="48" height="48" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide-icon lucide lucide-x inline"><!--[--><!----><path d="M18 6 6 18"><!----></path><!----><!----><path d="m6 6 12 12"><!----></path><!----><!--]--><!----><!----></svg><!----> <span class="sr-only">Close menu</span></label></nav></div></div></header> <main class="flex-1"><!--[0--><div class="m-auto max-w-399"><div class="columns-xs"><h1 class="mx-3 text-xl font-thin">Molecular Dissection of BRCA1 Tumor Suppression Networks</h1> <p class="mx-3 indent-8">BRCA1 heterodimerizes with another tumor suppressor BARD1, and the resulting complex possesses
19			DNA binding and ubiquiFtin E3 ligase activities, and interacts with proteins that function in
20			diverse biological processes, including homology-directed DNA repair (HDR), DNA replication
21			fork maintenance, DNA damage checkpoints, R-loop resolution and mitotic chromosome
22			segregation. However, the mechanisms that underlie BRCA1-BARD1 dependent processes have not
23			been determined because of the immense challenge of expressing and purifying the BRCA1-BARD1
24			complexes for mechanistic workup. Importantly, we have overcome this technical challenge,
25			which has allowed us to begin providing mechanistic information regarding the roles of
26			BRCA1-BARD1 in HDR (Zhao et. al. Nature 2017). In the future, we will continue to dissect the
27			tumor suppression mechanisms of BRCA1-BARD1, with one specific focus on its ubiqutin E3 ligase
28			activity, by using a synergistic approach of protein biochemistry, cell biology, and
29			structural biology.</p> <img src="/_app/immutable/assets/art-1.CC0eS71r.webp" alt=""/> <hr class="my-3"/> <h1 class="mx-3 text-xl font-thin">Mechanism of Homology Search and DNA Invasion</h1> <img src="/_app/immutable/assets/art-2.BJhqGZ8D.webp" alt=""/> <p class="mx-3 indent-8">We discovered that BRCA1-BARD1 functions in the step of homology search and DNA invasion
30			during homology-directed DNA repair (HDR). As BRCA1-BARD1 forms complexes with a number of
31			protein factors that also are involved in HDR, we will investigate whether and how those
32			BRCA1-BARD1 complexes particulate in the process (BRCA1 dependent pathway), and define its
33			relationship with the BRCA1 independent pathways.</p> <hr class="my-3"/> <h1 class="mx-3 text-xl font-thin">Probe Therapies for BRCA-related Cancers</h1> <p class="mx-3 indent-8">Pathogenic mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 lead to genome instability and predispose afflicted
34			individuals to diverse cancer types. BRCA1/2 mutant cancer patients in general respond well to
35			therapy involving the use of a PARP inhibitor (PARPi) or platinum salt, but most would acquire
36			drug resistance over time. Furthermore, many more mutations foun

36d in patients are variants of
37			unknown significance (VUSs), as we do not yet know whether the gene mutations in question
38			actually affect function and how severe the defect is. As such, it is essential to study the
39			mutants to probe effective therapies for patient with VUSs or resistance to standard
40			treatment.</p> <img src="/_app/immutable/assets/art-3.h481ScU2.webp" alt=""/></div><!----></div><!--]--></main> <footer class="bg-amber-600"><div class="m-auto grid max-w-399 grid-cols-[auto_auto_1fr] gap-4"><section><h1 class="font-semibold">Address</h1> <address><p>University of Texas at San Antonio</p> <p>7703 Floyd Curl Drive</p> <p>San Antonio, Texas 78229</p></address></section> <nav><ul><li><a class="[--my-sibling-index:0]" href="../">Home</a></li> <li><a class="[--my-sibling-index:1]" href="../positions/">Positions</a></li> <li><a class="[--my-sibling-index:2]" href="../research/">Research</a></li> <li><a class="[--my-sibling-index:3]" href="../people/">People</a></li> <li><a class="[--my-sibling-index:4]" href="../publications/">Publications</a></li><!----></ul></nav></div></footer></div><!--]--><!----><!--]--><!--]--> <!--[-1--><!--]--><!--]-->
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