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Contact

210-450-8869

kwony@uthscsa.edu

Departments & Divisions

Youngho Kwon

Associate Professor/Research

My research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of chromosome damage repair by homologous recombination (HR). I have been carrying out research projects on (1) chromatin remodeling by HR proteins RAD54 and its homolog, (2) HR-specific DNA synthesis regulated by ATPase DNA motor proteins, (3) the roles of tumor suppressors BRCA2, BRCA1-BARD1, PALB2, FANCJ and their associated proteins in HR, and (4) the functions of the RAD51 paralog complexes as regulators of HR. I am particularly interested in molecular mechanisms underlying the HR proteins and the outcome of mutations that affect their functions.  My current projects will shed light on the molecular functions of the various tumor suppressors and the research will likely be germane for understanding the mechanisms of genome instability in cancer cells.

  • Professional Background

    Education

    • 2003 - Ph.D - Biochemistry - Washington State University, WA
    • 1992 - M.S. - Physical Pharmacy - Seoul National University, Korea
    • 1990 - B.S. - School of Pharmacy - Seoul National University, Korea

    Training

    • 2004 - Post-doctoral - Molecular and Biophysics and Biochemistry - Yale University, CT

    Appointments

    • 2007 - Associate Research Scientist - Yale University
    • 2018 - Research Scientist - Yale University
    • 2018 - Associate Professor, Research - University Texas health San Antonio, TX

  • Research & Grants

    Regulation of RAD51 presynaptic filament and regulatory mechanisms that are dependent on BRCA2-DSS1-RPA and BRCA1-BARD1.

    Mechanism of DNA Helicases in  HR-associated DNA synthesis in human cells. 

  • Publications

      Crickard JB, Moevus CJ, Kwon Y, Sung P, Greene EC. (2020) Rad54 Drives ATP Hydrolysis-Dependent DNA Sequence Alignment during Homologous Recombination. Cell. 181(6):1380-1394.

      Buzovetsky O, Kwon Y (co-first author), Pham NT, Kim C, Ira G, Sung P, Xiong Y.Role of the Pif1-PCNA Complex in Pol δ -dependent Strand Displacement DNA Synthesis and Break-Induced Replication. Cell Rep. (2017) 21(7):1707-1714.

      Zhao W, Steinfeld JB, Liang F, Chen X, Maranon DG, Jian Ma C, Kwon Y, Rao T, Wang W, Sheng C, Song X, Deng Y, Jimenez-Sainz J, Lu L, Jensen RB, Xiong Y, Kupfer GM, Wiese C, Greene EC, Sung P. BRCA1-BARD1 promotes RAD51-mediated homologous DNA pairing. Nature. (2017) 550(7676):360-365.

      Zhao W, Vaithiyalingam S, San Filippo J, Maranon DG, Jimenez-Sainz J, Fontenay GV, Kwon Y, Leung SG, Lu L, Jensen RB, Chazin WJ, Wiese C, Sung P. Promotion of BRCA2-Dependent Homologous Recombination by DSS1 via RPA Targeting and DNA Mimicry. Mol. Cell (2015) 59(2):176-87.

      Lee JY, Terakawa T, Qi Z, Steinfeld JB, Redding S, Kwon Y, Gaines WA, Zhao W,  Sung P, Greene EC. Base triplet stepping by the Rad51/RecA family of recombinases. Science (2015)  349(6251):977-81.

      Wilson MA, Kwon Y (co-first author), Xu Y, Chung WH, Chi P, Niu H, Mayle R, Chen X, Malkova A, Sung P, Ira G. Pif1 helicase and Pol δ promote recombination-coupled DNA synthesis via bubble migration. Nature. (2013) 502(7471):393-6.