Faculty Directory

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.