Gregory G. Oakley

Biography

Education: Bachelor of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY B.S. (Biology), University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY Ph.D. (Toxicology), University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY

Research Interest

Our research interests lie in the area of DNA damage and repair. Specifically, our research focuses on the signal transduction pathways that regulate the cellular responses to DNA damage and how alterations in these pathways contribute to mutagenesis and, ultimately, carcinogenesis. Current studies involve the biochemical activities of the protein complex, M/R/N (composed of Mre11, Rad50 and NBS1), and RPA, and how they work cooperatively and function in the replication stress response. Our primary goal is to achieve an understanding of the mechanistic roles of these proteins and how they cooperate to maintain genomic integrity. To this end we are investigating the interaction between these proteins and determining the role phosphorylation plays in this protein-protein interaction. By identifying the exact protein-protein interaction will reveal possible sites and peptides involved in phosphorylation and begin to address the involvement phosphorylation plays in this interaction. The identification of the phosphorylated residues that coordinate interaction between RPA and the MRN complex and the kinase(s) responsible for phosphorylation of these proteins will be important in understanding how the MRN complex and RPA promote and signal damage recognition and repair of stalled and collapsed replication forks. Further work will involve the identification of other proteins involved in these processes including MDC1, FANCD2 and ATR and their involvement in the recruitment and function of the MRN complex and RPA at sites of DNA damage.