Education
- Ph.D., The University of Texas
- M.D. Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston
- M.S., Illinois State University
- B.S., Millikin University
Research Interest
- DNA Structure
- DNA Repair
- Genomic Instability
- Cancer
Courses
- Genetic Principles
- Cell and Molecular Methods
- General Biology I Lab
Biography
Alexandra Berroyer, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at St. Mary’s University. Her primary research focuses on alternative, four-stranded DNA structures called G-quadruplexes that form in cells. G-quadruplexes, or G4s, can play positive roles in cells, such as controlling gene expression, when their formation is regulated. However, dysregulated, aberrant G4-formation causes genomic instability that can drive diseases like cancer.
Using human cells and yeast as model organisms, Berroyer researches the interplay between these odd DNA structures and important DNA repair mechanisms cells rely on to survive the occurrence of DNA damage. Specifically, she aims to investigate how G4s influence DNA repair protein function in cells and uncover how DNA repair factors control the number of G4s in cells. She hopes results from her studies contribute to a better understanding of the link between G4s and disease development.
Berroyer received a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Millikin University followed by a master of science degree in Biotechnology from Illinois State University. She then earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston. Following her Ph.D., Berroyer was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health before joining the Department of Biological Sciences at St. Mary’s University.
Selected Publications
Berroyer, A., Bacolla, A., Tainer, J. A., and Kim, N. (2022). Cleavage-defective Topoisomerase I mutants sharply increase G-quadruplex-associated genomic instability. Microbial Cell. 9(3): 52-68.
Stokdyk K. A., Berroyer A., Grami Z. A., and Kim N. (2021). The activity of yeast Apn2 AP endonuclease at uracil-derived AP sites is dependent on the major carbon source. Current Genetics. Published online January 1, 2021 (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00294-020-01141-4).
Singh S., Berroyer A., Kim, M. and Kim N. (2020). Yeast Nucleolin Nsr1 Impedes Replication and Elevates Genome Instability at an Actively Transcribed Guanine-Rich G4-DNA Forming Sequence. Genetics. 216 (4) 1023-1037.
Williams, J. D., Houserova, D., Johnson, B. R. Dyniewski, B., Berroyer, A., French, H., Barchie, A. A., Bilbrey, D. D., Demeis, J. D., Ghee, K. R., Hughes, A. G., Kreitz, N. W., McInnis, C. H., Pudner, S. C., Reeves, M. N., Stahly, A. N.,Turcu, A., Watters, B. C., Daly, G. T., Langley, R. J., Gillespie, M. N., Prakash, A., Larson, E. D., Kasukurthi, M. V., Huang, J., Jinks-Robertson, S., and Borchert, G. M. (2020). Characterization of long G4-rich enhancer-associated genomic regions engaging in a novel loop:loop ‘G4 Kissing’ interaction. Nucleic Acids Research. 48 (11): 5907-5925.
Berroyer, A. and Kim, N. (2020). The functional consequences of eukaryotic Topoisomerase 1 interaction with G-quadruplex DNA. Genes. 11 (193): 1-16.
Berroyer, A., Alvarado, G., and Larson, E. D. (2019). Response of Sulfolobus solfataricus Dpo4 polymerase in vitro to a DNA G-quadruplex. Mutagenesis. 34 (3): 289-297.
Berroyer, A., Robertson, M. W., Watson, C. R, and Wilcoxen, T. E. (2019). Trail following behavior in the American painted lady caterpillar Vanessa virginiensis (Hexapoda: Lepidoptera). International Journal of Current Research. 11 (2): 1476-1479.
Williams, J. D., Fleetwood, S., Berroyer, A., Kim, N., and Larson, E. D. (2015). Sites of instability in the human TCF3 (E2A) gene adopt G-quadruplex DNA structures in vitro. Frontiers in Genetics. 6 (177): 1-11.