M.D. Anderson Events

John H. Blaffer lecture series

Lee Zou, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
MGH Cancer Center
Harvard Medical School
Charlestown, MA

Topic:  Sensing and Signaling DNA Damage by the ATM and ATR Checkpoint Kinases

Date: 11/3/09, 4pm to 5pm
Time: 11/3/09, 4pm to 5pm
Location: Onstead Auditorium, Basic Science Research Building, Floor 3, near Elevator J, (S3.8012)
Directions: Onstead Auditorium is accessible from the Main MDACC Bldg. via the 3rd/4th floor Tan Zone skybridges and the front entrance to BSRB on 6767 Bertner
Format: Lecture
Facilitator: Andreas Bergmann, Ph.D.
Speaker: Lee Zou, Ph.D.
Speaker Bio: Maintenance of genomic integrity is essential for the survival of all organisms. In humans, loss of genomic integrity is closely linked to cancers and other genetic diseases. The genomes of cells are constantly challenged by DNA damage, DNA replication problems, and other forms of cellular stresses. In response to such stresses, cells activate a complex signaling pathway, termed the checkpoint, to orchestrate various cellular responses. The checkpoint-mediated regulation and coordination of processes such as cell cycle transitions, DNA replication, DNA repair, transcription, and apoptosis are crucial for the stability of the genome. Mutations impairing the functions of this signaling pathway associate with cancers and cancer predisposition syndromes (e.g. p53, Brca1, ATM, Chk2, and Nbs1). Furthermore, checkpoint is activated at the early stage of human tumorigensis, suggesting a role of checkpoint as an anti-cancer barrier against the genomic instability induced by oncogenic stresses.
Sponsor: Department of Genetics
Contact: karen clayton - (713) 834-6317 - kclayton@mdanderson.org

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