Molecular Biology
Faculty and Research Interests
Jennifer Fischer, PhD
Instructor
Science Center 128
856 566-6098
Fax: 856 566-6291
fischeje@umdnj.edu
Education
UMDNJ-Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, NJ
PhD (Molecular Biology), 2004
St. Joseph, PA
MS (Biology) , 2000
Messiah College, PA
BS (Biochemistry) , 1998
Research Interests
Lab Research: The compartmentalization of mitochondrial DNA results in distinct mechanisms for maintenance of its genome and cellular response to injury. Modulation of the mitochondrial isoform of dUTPase can be used to shift the nucleotide pools and cause uracil misincorporation. One goal is to down regulate this enzyme to examine its role in maintenance of mitochondrial genomic integrity and also to analyze its affect in response to chemotheurapeutics. A second area of interest is nuclear DNA repair during the cell cycle. The nuclear isoform of uracil-DNA glycosylase cycles with the cell cycle and seems to be most prevalent during G1 & S phases. Post-translational modification may be important in unraveling the distinct cellular controls that tightly regulate the presence or absence of this enzyme to remove uracil from DNA.
Recent Publications
- Fischer, J.A., Muller-Weeks, S., Caradonna, S. 2007. A pitfall of propidium iodide staining in fluorescence-activate cell sorting cell cycle analysis? Cancer Research. 67(11):5577.
- Fischer, J.A., Muller-Weeks, S., Caradonna, S.. Fluorodeoxyuridine modulates cellular expression of the DNA base-excision repair enzyme, uracil-DNA glycosylase. Cancer Research. Vol. 66 :(17): 8829-8837 (2006 ) .
- Fischer, J.A., Muller-Weeks, S., Caradonna, S. Proteolytic degradation of the nuclear isoform of uracil-DNA glycosylase occurs during the S phase of the cell cycle. DNA Repair. Vol. 3: 505-513 (2004 ) .
- Fischer, J.A., McCann, M.P., Snetselaar, K.M. Methylation is involved in the Ustilago maydis mating response. Fungal genetics and Biology. Vol. 34: 21-35 (2001 ) .
Honors and Awards
- 2004, Student Scholar, Faculty Development Initiative in Aging
- 2002, Executive Women of New Jersey Graduate Merit Award
