Michael R. Lieber

 M.D., Ph.D.

Professor
Rita and Edward Polusky Chair in Basic Cancer Research and Professor of Pathology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Molecular Microbiology and Immunology

Keck School of Medicine
Department of Pathology

Physiologic breaks in DNA occur during the normal process by which antigen receptor genes are rearranged as a way of creating the immune system. Pathologic breaks in DNA occur due to free radical damage arising from normal oxidative respiration and from ionizing radiation that is naturally present in our environment. Disruption to chromosomal integrity caused by both. Physiologic and pathologic DNA are repaired by the same DNA end joining pathway. One aspect of his studies involves identifying the nucleic acid chemistry for the breakage and for the rejoining steps. A second involves identification of proteins that catalyze the breakage and the rejoining steps. A third aspect involves identifying how defects in the repair process or in genes encoding the repair proteins contribute to human disease.

 

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