PROJECTS:

·        Studies Covalent Adducts derived from the equine estrogen metabolite 4-hydroxyequilenin and determines the identity of the modified nucleotide in oligonucleotide and native DNA using ³²P-postlabeling method.

·        Studied DNA repair enzymes (UvrABC) binding kinetics with damaged DNA using steady state fluorescence technique. 

·        Performed direct and solid-state synthesis of various stereochemically defined and precisely positioned polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) lesions in various oligodeoxyribo-nucleotides of defined sequences. Developed effective HPLC- separations, purification and analytical procedures for enantiomeric forms of the site-specific, stereochemically-defined oligonucleotide adducts.

·        Studied nucleotide excision repair (NER) and base excision repair (BER) of structurally different DNA adducts caused by environmental carcinogens that interact with the p53 gene causing ‘hotspots’ of mutation that can result in cancer.

·        Laboratory experimental techniques include gel electrophoresis (DNA purification and sequencing), in vitro DNA repair assays.

Recent Publications:

1.    Base Selectivity and Effects of Sequence and DNA Secondary Structure on the Formation of Covalent Adducts Derived from the Equine Estrogen Metabolite 4-Hydroxyequilenin. Chem. Res. Toxicol. (2005)