Yolanda Sanchez, Ph.D.

Research

Cells have evolved intricate networks of proteins or signal transduction pathways that allow them to integrate internal or external signals in order to respond to specific cues during development and during stress. Molecules that originate from neighboring cells, tissues, and pathogens, can act over short and long distances to elicit a physiological response. Signaling pathways can also be triggered within the cell, as is the case when cells are placed under alert following DNA damage or when there is a problem with DNA replication. Such information is transmitted via protein-protein interactions and protein modifications and leads to the alteration of gene expression and other events that regulate cell division, DNA repair or cell death. Our laboratory focuses on checkpoint signaling events triggered by DNA damage or replication interference. We are taking genetic, biochemical and cell biological approaches to study these signaling pathways. We are interested in dissecting signaling complexes involved in the response to lesions that are caused by DNA damaging agents or stalled replication forks and determining how specific protein-protein interactions and cellular location are regulated to transmit this information. We are also interested in the interactions between the signaling molecules and the enzymes that function in DNA replication and repair.