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| Name |
Beese, Lorena S. |
| Location
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Duke University Medical Center |
| Primary Field
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Biochemistry |
| Secondary Field
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Biophysics and Computational Biology |
 Election Citation
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Beese's work focuses on the structure and mechanism of proteins. Using X-ray crystallography, Beese obtained a series of molecular snapshots outlining accurate DNA replication. She also elucidated steps along the reaction pathway of mammalian signal transduction proteins, presenting targets for the treatment of cancer, malaria, and pathogenic fungi. |
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Research Interests
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My research focuses on the structure and mechanism of proteins. I have worked on the molecular mechanisms of DNA polymerases and have been able to obtain a series of molecular snapshots that delineate accurate DNA replication as well as that of mismatched and damaged bases. One of my current research directions focuses on the mechanism of detection and excision of DNA lesions in the context of human DNA mismatch repair. I am also interested in enzymes that modify proteins in essential signal transduction pathways. I have determined the structures and mechanism of protein prenyltransferases that play an important role in human disease and present targets for development of new generation of drugs for treatment of cancer, malaria, and pathogenic fungi. |
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