Liu, Yuan
- Associate Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry , College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Contact Info

Overview
overview
- Yuan Liu, MD, PhD, joined the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Florida International University in 2010 as a faculty member. Her research interests focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms by which DNA damage and repair modulates genome and epigenome stability and their roles in development, prevention, and treatment of human cancer and neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington’s disease and Friedreich’s ataxia, among others. Additionally, Dr. Liu is exploring DNA repair as a biomarker for diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of cancer and human neurodegeneration, and drug discoveries of DNA repair inhibitors as treatments of human diseases.
research interests
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Oxidative DNA damage is involved in development of human diseases that include cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, atherosclerosis, diabetes and others. Oxidative DNA damage may result in genomic and epigenomic instability that subsequently leads to initiation and progression of human diseases. To combat the adverse effects of oxidative DNA damage, human cells have developed DNA base excision repair (BER), the major pathway that repairs oxidative DNA base lesions and strand breaks. Thus, understanding the molecular mechanisms by which oxidative DNA damage and BER may cause and prevent genomic and epigenomic instability is the key for further understanding initiation and progression of human cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and other diseases. Current research in my laboratory focuses on the following areas for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying oxidative DNA damage-induced genomic and epigenomic instability and its prevention.
Study on trinucleotide repeat instability via oxidative DNA damage and repair We recently found that repair of oxidative DNA damage by BER resulted in CAG repeat expansion and deletion that is directly linked to human diseases, i.e., Huntington's disease, Kennedy's disease and breast and prostate cancer. Specifically, we found that inefficient activities of BER enzymes, DNA polymerase β (Pol β) and flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) led to CAG repeat expansion during base excision repair. Using biochemistry and cell biology approaches, we are now exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying CAG repeat instability induced by both endogenous and environmental oxidative DNA damage that involves base excision repair. We have discovered that CAG repeats were expanded through DNA slippage rather than Pol β strand-displacement synthesis during BER. This indicates that CAG repeats may be expanded more easily during DNA repair than DNA replication. In addition, we are studying how to inhibit the instability of trinucleotide repeat instability by manipulating cellular DNA base excision repair capacity during repair of oxidative DNA damage. The research is funded by NIH.
Study on maintenance of epigenetic stability by DNA base excision repair DNA base damages that occur in CpG islands of tumor suppressor gene promoters were found to disrupt DNA methlyation pattern, a critical epigenetic marker that governs gene expression. Disruption of DNA methlyation pattern was found to suppress tumor suppressor gene expression that can further result in human cancer. We found that BER can effectively repair some base lesions on CpG islands that inhibit DNA methylation. We are now studying how individual BER enzymes and cofactors can effectively repair the DNA damages on CpG islands, thereby sustaining the stability of epigenetics on tumor suppressor genes and preventing cancer development.
Study on DNA base excision repair of DNA damages on short tandem repeats (STR) and its application in forensic sciences DNA damages that occur on short tandem repeat genetic markers or loci could significantly compromise PCR amplification of DNA of forensic casework. Current work in forensic sciences focuses on development of new sensitive approach for improving amplification of DNA from degraded DNA of forensic casework. Since degraded DNA may bear a variety of DNA base lesions and single-strand DNA breaks that lead to the failure of PCR amplification of STR of degraded DNA, we are interested in studying how DNA base excision repair may efficiently repair the damages on STR and how the repair mechanism may improve the PCR amplification of STR of degraded DNA from forensic casework samples. The long-term research goals in my laboratory is to identify DNA base excision repair enzymes and cofactors as new targets for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration and others as well as develop a new approach for improving detection of STR from degraded DNA of forensic casework samples by making use of base excision repair.
Scholarly & Creative Works
selected publications
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Article
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2021Scanning Ion Conductance Microscopy Study Reveals the Disruption of the Integrity of the Human Cell Membrane Structure by Oxidative DNA Damage. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS. 4:1632-1639.Full Text via DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.0c01461 Web of Science: 000620346200049
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2020R-loops promote trinucleotide repeat deletion through DNA base excision repair enzymatic activities. JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. 295:13902-13913.Full Text via DOI: 10.1074/jbc.RA120.014161 Web of Science: 000578444100016
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2020Dynamic single-cell intracellular pH sensing using a SERS-active nanopipette. ANALYST. 145:4852-4859.Full Text via DOI: 10.1039/d0an00838a Web of Science: 000548664800012
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2020N-6-methyladenosine mediates arsenite-induced human keratinocyte transformation by suppressing p53 activation. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION. 259.Full Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113908 Web of Science: 000528534600030
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2020Androgen Receptor and Poly(ADP-ribose) Glycohydrolase Inhibition Increases Efficiency of Androgen Ablation in Prostate Cancer Cells. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 10.Full Text via DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60849-y Web of Science: 000562886900005
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2020Inhibition of base excision repair by natamycin suppresses prostate cancer cell proliferation. BIOCHIMIE. 168:241-250.Full Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2019.11.008 Web of Science: 000503444300022
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2020Oxidative DNA Damage Modulates DNA Methylation Pattern in Human Breast Cancer 1 (BRCA1) Gene via the Crosstalk between DNA Polymerase beta and a de novo DNA Methyltransferase. CELLS. 9.Full Text via DOI: 10.3390/cells9010225 Web of Science: 000515398200225
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2019Tyrosyl-DNA Phosphodiesterase 1 and Topoisomerase I Activities as Predictive Indicators for Glioblastoma Susceptibility to Genotoxic Agents. CANCERS. 11.Full Text via DOI: 10.3390/cancers11101416 Web of Science: 000498826000013
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2019Fluorescent 5-Pyrimidine and 8-Purine Nucleosides Modified with an N-Unsubstituted 1,2,3-Triazol-4-yl Moiety. JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY. 84:3624-3631.Full Text via DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.8b03135 Web of Science: 000461844000051
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2019Diastereomeric Recognition of 5 ',8-cyclo-2 '-Deoxyadenosine Lesions by Human Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase 1 in a Biomimetic Model. CELLS. 8.Full Text via DOI: 10.3390/cells8020116 Web of Science: 000460896000038
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2019Methods to Study Trinucleotide Repeat Instability Induced by DNA Damage and Repair. DNA REPAIR: METHODS AND PROTOCOLS. 1999:87-101.Full Text via DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9500-4_5 Web of Science: 000486994800006
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2018Electron-Mediated Aminyl and Iminyl Radicals from C5 Azido-Modified Pyrimidine Nucleosides Augment Radiation Damage to Cancer Cells. ORGANIC LETTERS. 20.Full Text via DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.8b03035 Web of Science: 000452930100012
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2018The deoxyribose phosphate lyase of DNA polymerase beta suppresses a processive DNA synthesis to prevent trinucleotide repeat instability. NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH. 46.Full Text via DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky700 Web of Science: 000450952000029
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2018Pyrimidine Nucleosides with a Reactive (ss-Chlorovinyl)sulfone or (ss-Keto)sulfone Group at the C5 Position, Their Reactions with Nucleophiles and Electrophiles, and Their Polymerase-Catalyzed Incorporation into DNA. ACS OMEGA. 3.Full Text via DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.8b00584 Web of Science: 000430200300070
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2017Brevetoxin-2, is a unique inhibitor of the C-terminal redox center of mammalian thioredoxin reductase-1. TOXICOLOGY AND APPLIED PHARMACOLOGY. 329:58-66.
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2017Precision Sports Medicine: The Future of Advancing Health and Performance in Youth and Beyond. STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING JOURNAL. 39:48-58.Web of Science: 000400010400007
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2017Protection of Nrf2 Against Arsenite-induced Oxidative Damage is Regulated by the Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate-Protein Kinase G Signaling Pathway. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY. 32:2004-2020.
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2017miR-155 mediates arsenic trioxide resistance by activating Nrf2 and suppressing apoptosis in lung cancer cells. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 7.
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2016Crosstalk between MSH2-MSH3 and pol beta promotes trinucleotide repeat expansion during base excision repair. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS. 7.
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2015AP endonuclease 1 prevents trinucleotide repeat expansion via a novel mechanism during base excision repair. NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH. 43:5948-5960.
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2015Resveratrol Protects Against Arsenic Trioxide-Induced Oxidative Damage Through Maintenance of Glutathione Homeostasis and Inhibition of Apoptotic Progression. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. 56:333-346.
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2014A 5 ', 8-cyclo-2 '-deoxypurine lesion induces trinucleotide repeat deletion via a unique lesion bypass by DNA polymerase beta. NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH. 42:13749-13763.
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2014Amplified Single Base-Pair Mismatch Detection via Aggregation of Exonuclease-Sheared Gold Nanoparticles. ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY. 86:3461-3467.
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2014Base excision repair of oxidative DNA damage coupled with removal of a CAG repeat hairpin attenuates trinucleotide repeat expansion. NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH. 42:3675-3691.
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2014Critical role of cellular glutathione homeostasis for trivalent inorganic arsenite-induced oxidative damage in human bronchial epithelial cells. MUTATION RESEARCH-GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS. 770:35-45.
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2013Involvement of DNA polymerase beta overexpression in the malignant transformation induced by benzo[a]pyrene. TOXICOLOGY. 309:73-80.
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2012Deregulated expression of DNA polymerase beta is involved in the progression of genomic instability. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. 53:325-333.
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Meeting Abstract
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2018DNA damage landscape and trinucleotide repeat instability.. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS.Web of Science: 000442847800129
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2018Long intergenic non-coding RNA ROR is involved in arsenite-induced oxidative stress in HBE cells.. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS.Web of Science: 000442847800146
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2018Oxidative DNA damage alters miRNA expression.. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS.Web of Science: 000442847800077
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2018The deoxyribose phosphate lyase of DNA polymerase beta suppresses a processive DNA synthesis to prevent trinucleotide repeat instability.. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS.Web of Science: 000442847800133
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20175-Azido-modified pyrimidine nucleosides: Chemistry and biology. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY.Web of Science: 000430569105432
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20175-azidomethyl-2'-deoxyuridine triphosphate can be efficiently incorporated by a repair DNA polymerase. ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY.Web of Science: 000430568500835
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2017Base Excision Repair in a GAA Repeat R-loop Leads to GAA Repeats Instability.. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. S57-S57.Web of Science: 000408314700115
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2017Identification of miRNAs and Its Target Gene Network in Mediating Arsenite-induced Malignant Transformation in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells by miRNA Microarray Analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. S70-S71.Web of Science: 000408314700154
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2016Environmentally-Induced Oxidative DNA Damage Disrupts DNA Methylation Pattern in Human Breast Cancer Type 1 (BRCA1) Gene via Base Excision Repair.. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. S62-S62.Web of Science: 000383587400092
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2016Functional Coordination of Dual Enzymatic Activities of DNA Polymerase beta Prevents Trinucleotide Repeat Instability.. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. S70-S70.Web of Science: 000383587400116
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2016Oxidized DNA Base Lesions Promote Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion.. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. S69-S69.Web of Science: 000383587400113
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2016The Deoxyribose Phosphate Lyase Activity of DNA Polymerase beta Suppresses Trinucleotide Repeat Deletions During Base Excision Repair.. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. S70-S70.Web of Science: 000383587400115
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2016miRNA-155 Mediates Cellular Resistance to Arsenic Trioxide by Modulating Nrf2 Signaling Pathway.. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. S72-S72.Web of Science: 000383587400125
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2015A Protective Role of Nrf2 in Arsenite-Induced Oxidative Damage is Regulated by cGMP-PKG Pathway. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. S75-S75.Web of Science: 000360226400179
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2015AP Endonuclease 1 Combats the Extension of a T/G Mismatch by DNA Polymerase b in CpG Dinucleotides during Base Excision Repair. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. S62-S62.Web of Science: 000360226400128
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2015DNA Polymerase beta R137Q Polymorphism Does Not Significantly Alter Trinucleotide Repeat Instability. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. S63-S63.Web of Science: 000360226400130
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2015Environmentally-Induced Oxidative DNA Damage Disrupts DNA Methylation Pattern in Human Breast Cancer Type 1 (BRCA1) Gene Promoter Region. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. S63-S63.Web of Science: 000360226400131
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2015Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen Stimulates Flap Endonuclease 1 to Modulate GAA Repeat Stability via Base Excision Repair. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. S62-S62.Web of Science: 000360226400129
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2015Temozolomide Upregulates Frataxin in Friedreich's Ataxia Patient Cells via Contractions of Expanded GAA Repeats. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. S62-S62.Web of Science: 000360226400127
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2015The Interaction between PCNA and FEN1 Modulates TNR Instability. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. S64-S64.Web of Science: 000360226400135
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2014A 5 ', 8-deoxypurine Lesion Induces Genome Instability via DNA Polymerase beta during DNA Replication and Base Excision Repair. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. S55-S55.Web of Science: 000341176900158
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2014A 5 ', 8-deoxypurine Lesion Induces Trinucleotide Repeat Deletion via DNA Polymerase beta. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. S54-S54.Web of Science: 000341176900153
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2014AP Endonuclease 1 Cooperates with Flap Endonuclease 1 to Remove a Trinucleotide Repeat Hairpin.. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. S54-S54.Web of Science: 000341176900152
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2014DNA Polymerase (beta) Plays a Predominant Role in Bypassing a 5 ', 8-deoxypurine Lesion during DNA Replication and Base Excision Repair. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. S54-S54.Web of Science: 000341176900154
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2014MSH2-MSH3 Promotes GAA Repeat Expansion by Stimulating DNA Polymerase beta Activity during Base Excision Repair. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. S55-S55.Web of Science: 000341176900155
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2014Resveratrol Inhibits Oxidative Damage Induced by Arsenic Trioxide. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. S61-S61.Web of Science: 000341176900180
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2013Base Excision Repair of Oxidative DNA Damage is Coupled with Removal of a CAG Repeat Hairpin to Attenuate Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. S30-S30.Web of Science: 000323429400072
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2013MSH2-MSH3 Promotes GAA Repeat Expansion by Stimulating DNA Polymerase beta Activity during Base Excision Repair. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. S30-S30.Web of Science: 000323429400071
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2013Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion via DNA Base Lesion Repair.. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS. S32-S32.Web of Science: 000323429400079
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Review
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2020Trinucleotide repeat instability via DNA base excision repair. DNA REPAIR.Full Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2020.102912 Web of Science: 000579361800007
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20195 ',8-Cyclopurine Lesions in DNA Damage: Chemical, Analytical, Biological, and Diagnostic Significance. CELLS.Full Text via DOI: 10.3390/cells8060513 Web of Science: 000475309200001
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2017Dynamics of p53: A Master Decider of Cell Fate. GENES.Full Text via DOI: 10.3390/genes8020066 Web of Science: 000399058000021
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2012DNA base excision repair: a mechanism of trinucleotide repeat expansion. TRENDS IN BIOCHEMICAL SCIENCES. 162-172.
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2011A review of recent experiments on step-to-step "hand-off" of the DNA intermediates in mammalian base excision repair pathways. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY. 536-550.
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Works By Students
chaired theses and dissertations
- Ren, Yaou, Trinucleotide Repeat Instability Modulated by DNA Repair Enzymes and Cofactors 2018
- Jiang, Zhongliang, Epigenetic Instability Induced by DNA Base Lesion via DNA Base Excision Repair 2017
- Beaver, Jill M, Trinucleotide Repeat Instability is Modulated by DNA Base Lesions and DNA Base Excision Repair 2016
- Xu, Meng, Oxidative DNA Damage Modulates Trinucleotide Repeat Instability Via DNA Base Excision Repair 2014
- Zhou, Jing, Roles of DNA Base Excision Repair in Maintaining the Integrity of DNA Methylation 2013
Research
principal investigator on
- 2nd Southern Genome Maintenance Conference awarded by Environmental Health Sciences 2021 - 2022
- Trinucleotide Repeat Instability via DNA Damage and Repair awarded by Environmental Health Sciences 2013 - 2021
- Mechanisms of Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion via Oxidative DNA Damage and Repair awarded by Environmental Health Sciences 2010 - 2014
- Mechanisms of Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion via Oxidative DNA Damage and Repair awarded by Environmental Health Sciences 2010 - 2013
co-principal investigator on
- A Mechanism Based Intervention for Brevetoxin Induced Oxidative Stress awarded by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin 2018 - 2022
- Novel Chemotherapeutic Treatment for Prostate Cancer awarded by Community Foundation of Broward 2019 - 2020
- Investigation of a Novel Treatment for Advanced Prostate Cancer awarded by Community Foundation of Broward 2016 - 2018
subproject principal investigator on
investigator on
Contact
full name
- Yuan Liu
Identifiers
ORCID iD
- https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4797-6396 (confirmed)
visualizations
Recent publications and grants in Scholars@FIU
publication subject areas
Citation index-derived subject areas the researcher has published in