Research Interests

Role of signaling effectors and chromatin modifiers in DNA-damage response, new methods to sensitize cancer cells to radiation therapy, and protein stability in regulatory feed-back loops in cancer cells.

Research Program

My research interests are focused in gaining a better understanding of mechanistic insights by which extracellular signals influence affect the outcome of DNA-damaging agents. We are particularly interested in defining the role of major signaling nodules and/or chromatin remodeling complexes in DNA damage response. This research is designed to build-up a new network of modifiers and/or determinants of sensitivity of cancer cells to radiation therapy and to chemotherapeutic agents. Our long-term goal is to identify and target such modifiers to sensitize cancer cells to therapy, leading to a better antitumor outcome.

Selected Publications

• Li DQ, Reddy SD, Pakala SB, Wu X, Zhang Y, Rayala SK, Kumar R MTA1 coregulator regulates p53 stability and function. Journal of Biological Chemistry, In Press, 2009
• Li DQ, Ohshiro K, Reddy SD, Pakala SB, Lee MH, Zhang Y, Rayala SK, Kumar R. E3 ubiquitin ligase COP1 regulates the stability and functions of MTA1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009; 106:17493-17498.
• Miao H, Li DQ, Mukherjee A, Guo H, Petty A, Cutter J, Basilion JP, Sedor J, Wu J, Danielpour D, Sloan AE, Cohen ML, Wang B. EphA2 mediates ligand-dependent inhibition and ligand-independent promotion of cell migration and invasion via a reciprocal regulatory loop with Akt. Cancer Cell 2009; 16:9-20.
• Molli PR, Li DQ, Murray BW, Rayala SK, Kumar R. PAK signaling in oncogenesis. Oncogene 2009; 28:2545-2455.
• Talukder AH, Li DQ, Manavathi B, Kumar R. Serine 28 phosphorylation of NRIF3 confers its co-activator function for estrogen receptor-alpha transactivation. Oncogene 2008; 27:5233-5242.