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Patrick Sung

 

Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry; Molecular Cell Biology, Genetics & Development

Professor of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry

Education

B.Sc. University of Liverpool 1981
D. Phil. Oxford University 1985

Research Interests

Endogenous free radicals and environmental agents such as ionizing radiation induce DNA double-strand breaks in chromosomes. The repair of these chromosomal breaks is critical for the maintenance of genomic stability. Importantly, defects in the cellular response to DNA double-strand breaks have been linked with inherited human cancer-prone syndromes and the accumulation of the types of chromosome rearrangements found in cancer cells. Two distinct pathways repair DNA double-strand breaks. In homologous recombination (HR), the repair of the broken DNA molecule requires an intact homologous duplex to direct the process. Alternatively, a pathway known as non-homologous DNA end joining (NHEJ) rejoins the ends of broken DNA molecules. Our research efforts focus on delineating the mechanisms of HR and NHEJ and address the role of chromatin in the repair reactions.

Recent Publications

• Raynard, S., Bussen, W., and Sung, P. (2006). A double Holliday junction dissolvasome comprising BLM, topoisomerase IIIalpha, and BLAP75. J. Biol. Chem. 281:13861-13864.
• Sehorn, M.G., Sigurdsson, S., Bussen, W., Unger, V.M., and Sung, P. (2004). Human meiotic recombinase Dmc1 promotes ATP-dependent homologous DNA strand exchange. Nature 429:433-437.

Contact

E-mail
patrick.sung@yale.edu