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Patrick C . Swanson, PhD

Program Director, Graduate Program Director Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology

Professor

P Swanson

Contact

School of Medicine
Med Microbiology & Immunology
Graduate School
Medical Microbiology and Immunology (Doctorate)
Medical Microbiology and Immunology (Master of Science)
Pharmaceutical Sciences (Master of Science)
Translational Hearing
Cytometry
CRISS II - Criss 2 - 432

Patrick C . Swanson, PhD

Program Director, Graduate Program Director Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology

Professor

Cancer Research Focus

The products of the Recombination Activating Genes (RAG) initiate DNA double-strand breaks during V(D)J recombination, which is the process that is responsible for assembling immunoglobulin and T cell receptor genes in lymphocytes.  While essential for normal development of adaptive immunity, this process is not always benign, as certain types of leukemia and lymphoma harbor aberrant DNA rearrangements that can be traced to mistakes during V(D)J recombination.  A major focus of research in my laboratory to understand the regulatory mechanisms that constrain RAG activity and guide the appropriate repair of the RAG-induced DNA breaks to prevent genome instability and cancer.

Cancer Research Area(s)
  • Blood Cancers
Examples of the most recent publications can be obtained from this PubMed link.

Research Focus

I am generally interested in mechanisms of immune repertoire diversification.  My research program is currently focused on studying various aspects of V(D)J recombination, the process by which immunoglobulin and T cell receptor genes are assembled during lymphocyte development.  V(D)J recombination is initiated by the RAG1 and RAG2 proteins, which together introduce DNA breaks in the antigen receptor loci, which are subsequently repaired by components of the non-homologous DNA end-joining (NHEJ) repair pathway (Fig. 1).  The laboratory has two major ongoing projects.  The first project is broadly focused on how proteins that associated with the full-length RAG1 regulate V(D)J recombination by facilitating DNA end-joining or the timely degradation of RAG1.  The second project involves determining whether enforced expression of catalytically inactive RAG1 in mice can impair secondary V(D)J recombination events triggered by engagement of self-antigen (receptor editing) or in response to immunization (receptor revision), and whether defects in these processes increase susceptibility to malignancy or autoimmune disease.  These research projects are or have been supported by both intramural and extramural grants, including grants awarded by the National Institutes of Health and the American Cancer Society.

Department

Med. Microbiology & Immunology

Position

Professor

Articles

  • Journal of Molecular Cell Biology
    Schabla NM, Mondal K, Swanson PC. DCAF1 (VprBP): emerging physiological roles for a unique dual-service E3 ubiquitin ligase substrate receptor. J Mol Cell Biol. 2018 Dec 24. doi: 10.1093/jmcb/mjy085. [Epub ahead of print] 2019
  • Journal of Immunology
    Schabla NM, Perry GA, Palmer VL, Swanson PC.VprBP (DCAF1) Regulates RAG1 Expression Independently of Dicer by Mediating RAG1 Degradation. J Immunol. 2018 Aug 1;201(3):930-939. 2018
  • Cellular Immunology
    Palmer VL, Worth AN, Scott RL, Perry GA, Yan M, Li Q-Z, and Swanson PC. IL10 restrains autoreactive B cells in transgenic mice expressing inactive RAG1 2018 Sep;331:110-120. 2018
  • Cell Reports
    Haney SL, Upchurch GM, Opavska J, Klinkebiel D, Hlady RA, Suresh A, Pirruccello SJ, Shukla V, Lu R, Costinean S, Rizzino A, Karpf AR, Joshi S, Swanson P, Opavsky R.  Promoter Hypomethylation and Expression Is Conserved in Mouse Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Induced by Decreased or Inactivated Dnmt3a.
    15(6), p. 1190-201 2016
  • Experimental hematology
    Shukla A, Cutucache CE, Sutton GL, Pitner MA, Rai K, Rai S, Opavsky R, Swanson PC, Joshi SS.  Absence of caveolin-1 leads to delayed development of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in Eμ-TCL1 mouse model.
    44(1), p. 30-7 2016
  • BMC Immunology
    Palmer VL, Nganga VK, Rothermund ME, Perry GA, Swanson PC.  Cd1d regulates B cell development but not B cell accumulation and IL10 production in mice with pathologic CD5(+) B cell expansion.
    16, p. 66 2015
  • Journal of Immunology
    Palmer VL, Aziz-Seible R, Kassmeier MD, Rothermund M, Perry GA, Swanson PC.  VprBP Is Required for Efficient Editing and Selection of Igκ+ B Cells, but Is Dispensable for Igλ+ and Marginal Zone B Cell Maturation and Selection.
    195(4), p. 1524-37 2015
  • Not Applicable
    Swanson P.C., V(D)J Recombination, Somatic Hypermutation, and Class Switch Recombination. In Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences. Elsevier. 18-Oct-2014 doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.00113-6 Michael J. Caplan (Ed. in Chief) 2014
  • Not Applicable
    Manning J, Mitchell B, Appadurai DA, Shakya A, Pierce LJ, Wang H, Nganga V, Swanson PC, May JM, Tantin D, Spangrude GJ. Vitamin C promotes maturation of T-cells.
    19(17) 2013
  • BMC Molecular Biology
    Nakagawa T, Mondal K, Swanson PC. VprBP (DCAF1): a promiscuous substrate recognition subunit that incorporates into both RING-family CRL4 and HECT-family EDD/UBR5 E3 ubiquitin ligases.
    14, p. 22 2013
  • Journal of Proteome Research
    Ma D, Li Y, Hackfort B, Zhao Y, Xiao J, Swanson PC, Lappe J, Xiao P, Cullen D, Akhter M, Recker R, Xiao GG. Smoke-induced signal molecules in bone marrow cells from altered low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 mice.
    11(7), p. 3548-3560 2012
  • Nucleic Acids Research
    Wang G, Dhar K, Swanson PC, Levitus M, Chang Y. Real-time monitoring of RAG-catalyzed DNA cleavage unveils dynamic changes in coding end association with the coding end complex.
    40(13), p. 6082-6096 2012
  • BMC Molecular Biology
    AN Kriatchko, S Bergeron, and PC Swanson. ”HMG-box domain stimulation of RAG1/2 cleavage activity is metal ion dependent”
    9:32 2008
  • J. Biol. Chem.
    M Zhang and PC Swanson. ”V(D)J recombinase binding and cleavage of cryptic recombination signal sequences identified from lymphoid malignancies”
    283(11), p. 6717-6127 2008
  • Nucleic Acids Research
    P Raval, AN Kriatchko, S Kumar and PC Swanson. ”Evidence for Ku70/Ku80 association with full-length RAG1”
    36 (6), p. 2060-2072 2008
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology
    M Ciubotaru, AN Kriatchko, PC Swanson, FV Bright, and DG Schatz. ”Fluorescence resonance energy transfer analysis of recombination signal sequence configuration in the RAG1/2 synaptic complex”
    27(13), p. 4745-4758 2007
  • DNA Repair
    Raghavan SC, J Gu, PC Swanson, and MR Lieber. ”The structure-specific nicking of small heteroduplexes by the RAG complex: Implications for chromosomal translocations”
    6, p. 751-759 2007
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology
    Kriatchko, AN, DK Anderson, and PC Swanson. ”Identification and Characterization of a Gain-of-Function RAG-1 Mutant”
    Vol. 26, No. 12, p. 4712-4728 2006
  • Methods Enzymol.
    Bergeron S, DK Anderson, and PC Swanson ”RAG and HMGB1 Proteins: Purification and Biochemical Analysis of Recombination Signal Complexes”
    408, p. 511-528 2006
  • J Biol Chem
    Bergeron, S, T Medathipirambil, and PC Swanson ”Both High Mobility Group (HMG)-boxes and the Acidic Tail of HMGB1 Regulate Recombination-Activating Gene (RAG)-mediated Recombination Signal Synapsis and Cleavage in vitro”
    Vol. 280, No.35, p. 31314-31324 2005
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology
    Raghavan, SC, PC Swanson, Y Ma, and MR Lieber. ”Double-Strand Break Formation by the RAG Complex at the Bcl-2 Major Breakpoint Region and at other non-B DNA Structures in vitro”
    Vol. 25, No 14, p. 5904-5919 2005
  • Immunological Reviews
    The bounty of RAGs: recombination signal complexes and reaction outcomes
    200, p. 90-114 2004
  • Nature
    Raghavan SC, Swanson PC, Wu X, Hsieh C-L, and Lieber MR. ”A Non-B DNA structure at the bcl-2 major breakpoint region is cleaved by the RAG complex”
    428, p. 29-31 2004
  • J Biol Chem
    Swanson PC, Volkmer D, and Wang L. ”Full-length RAG-2, and not full-length RAG-1, specifically suppresses RAG-mediated transposition, but not hybrid joint formation or disintegration”
    279 (6), p. 4034-4044 2004
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology
    Swanson, P.C. A RAG-1/RAG-2 tetramer supports 12/23-regulated synapsis, cleavage, and transposition of V(D)J recombination signals
    Vol. 22, issue 22, p. 7790-7801 2002
  • Not Applicable
    ”B Cell Development” Chapter in Immunology for Medical Students by Nairn and Helbert 2002
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology
    P.C. Swanson,”Fine Structure and Activity of Discrete RAG-HMG Complexes on V(D)J Recombination Signals”
    22, p. 1340-1351 2002
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology
    Patrick C. Swanson ”The DDE motif in RAG-1 is contributed in trans to a single active site that catalyzes the nicking and transesterification steps of V(D)J recombination”
    Vol. 21, No. 2, p. 449-458 2001
  • Not Applicable
    P.C. Swanson and S. Desiderio ”RAG-2 Promotes Heptamer Occu[ancy by RAG-1 in the Assembly of a V(D)J Initiation Complex Mol. Cell. Biol. 1999 19, 3674-3683 1999
  • P.C. Swanson.”A RAG-1-RAG-2 Tetramer Supports 12/23-Regulated Synapsis, Cleavage, and Transposition of V(D)J Recombination Signals”. Submitted to Immunity.
  • Swanson, P. Medical Microbiology and Immunology Review, 2002. In press at Biotest Publishing Co., Oxnard, CA.

Publications

  • FASEB Journal
    Patrick C. Swanson, Dustin Volkmer, and Lei Wang ”The 'dispensable' regions of RAG-1 and RAG-2 play separable roles in regulating V(D)J recombinase activity in vitro”
    17, p. C190 2003
  • Not Applicable
    Swanson, P.C. ”A RAG-1/RAG-2 tetramer supports 12/23-regulated synapsis, cleavage, and transposition of V(D)J recombination signals” Keystone Symposia, B cells and Antibodies, Keystone, Colorado 2003
  • Not Applicable
    Swanson, P.C. ”A molecular characterization of RAG-1/RAG-2 synaptic complexes involved in V(D)J recombination” 18th UICC International Cancer Congress Oslo, Norway 2002

Presentations

  • Invited Speaker, VA Friday Seminar Series, VprBP(DCAF1) regulates V(D)J recombination by mediating RAG1 degradation: implications to immune repertoire development and genome stability 2019
  • Invited speaker, GCBA Seminar Series, UNMC. VprBP(DCAF1) regulates V(D)J recombination by mediating RAG1 degradation 2018
  • Poster presentation: IL10 regulates in vivo antibody production and in vitro lipopolysaccharide-induced B cell responses in dnRAG1 mice Swanson PC, Palmer VL, Worth A, Scott R, and Perry GA Keystone Symposia "B cells: mechanisms of immunity and autoimmunity" Dresden Germany 2018
  • Poster presentation: VprBP/DCAF1 regulates RAG1 expression independently of Dicer by promoting RAG1 degradation. Schabla NM, Palmer VL, Perry GA, and Swanson PC. Keystone Symposia "B cells: Mechanisms in Immunity and Autoimmunity" Dresden, Germany 2018
  • Oral Presentation: VprBP/DCAF1 regulates V(D)J recombination by mediating RAG1 degradation 2018
  • FASEB SRC "Molecular Mechanisms of Immune Cell Development and Function" Snowmass Village CO Short talk Title: VprBP/DCAF1 mediates post-transcriptional regulation of RAG1 independent of Dicer 2017
  • Poster presentation. "IL10 regulates in vivo antibody production and in vitro lipopolysaccharide-induced B cell responses in dnRAG1 miceFASEB SRC "Molecular mechansism of immune cell development and function" Snowmass Village CO 2017
  • Poster presentation: VprBP regulates RAG1 expression at the post-transcriptional level and independently of Dicer Schabla NM, Palmer VL, Perry GA, and Swanson PC FASEB SRC "Molecular mechansism of immune cell development and function" Snowmass Village CO 2017
  • St. Albert's Day Poster Session, Creighton University. Poster Presentation. N. MAX SCHABLA, Greg A. Perry, James T. Fletcher, Patrick C. Swanson. "STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERIZATION OF VPRBP, A NOVEL RAG1-INTERACTING FACTOR" 2015
  • Allergy and Immunology Grand Rounds. Creighton University Omaha NE. Oral Presentation. Immunoglobulins: from genetics to B cell biology. 2015
  • 56th American Society for Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition. San Francisco CA. Poster Presentation. Ashima Shukla, Christine E Cutucache, Karan Rai, Siddharth Rai, Rene Opavsky, Patrick Swanson, and Shantaram S Joshi. Absence of Caveloin-1 Leads to Delayed Development of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in E-TCL1 Mouse Model 2014
  • Great Plains Analytical Cytometry Association 7th Annual Conference. Creighton University Omaha NE. Oral Presentation. "Using Multicolor Flow Cytometry And Cell Sorting To Define A Role For VprBP In B Cell Development And V(D)J Recombination". 2014
  • Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories 2014 Meeting on GENE EXPRESSION & SIGNALING IN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. Poster Presentation. Victoria L. Palmer, Razia Aziz-Seible, Mary Rothermund, Greg A. Perry, Patrick C. Swanson. VprBP, an E3 ubiquitin ligase adaptor protein that associates with full-length RAG1, is required for efficient V(D)J rearrangement of distal VH and Vk gene segments and editing of Igκ chain, but not for development of Igλ+ B cells 2014
  • GCBA Seminar Series, UNMC, Omaha NE. Oral Presentation. Monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis and chronic lymphocytic leukemia: possible origin due to defects in B cell receptor editing? 2014
  • Midwest Student Biomedical Research Forum, Omaha NE. Poster Presentation. Razia S. Aziz-Seible, Koushik Mondal, Vicky L. Palmer, Greg A. Perry and Patrick C. Swanson. Is Herc2 required for B cell development and V(D)J recombination? 2013
  • School of Pharmacy Seminar Series, UNMC, Omaha NE. Oral Presentation "A RAG1-associating E3 ubiquitin ligase regulates B cell development and V(D)J recombination" 2012
  • CUSOM Faculty Club Reception, Omaha NE. S Kumar and PC Swanson. Poster Presentation. "Evidence for long-range RAG1/2 interactions with coding sequences in discrete V(D)J initiation complexes assembled on coupled cleavage substrates" 2008
  • 39th Annual Midwest Student Biomedical Research Forum, Omaha NE. AN Kriatchko, S Bergeron, and PC Swanson. Oral Presentation. "HMG-box domain stimulation of RAG1/2 cleavage activity is metal ion dependent" 2008
  • 39th Annual Midwest Student Biomedical Research Forum, Omaha NE. M Zhang, S Bergeron and PC Swanson. Poster Presentation. "HMGB1 promotes structure-specific DNA cleavage by the RAG proteins via a nick-hairpin mechanism" 2008
  • 39th Annual Midwest Student Biomedical Research Forum, Omaha NE. S Kumar and PC Swanson. Poster Presentation. "Identification of long range protein-DNA contacts in synaptic complexes involved in V(D)J recombination" 2008
  • Keystone Synposium "DNA Replication and Recombination" Santa Fe, NM Oral Presentation "Evidence for long-range RAG1/2 interactions with coding sequences in discrete V(D)J initiation complexes assembled on coupled cleavage substrates" 2008
  • Keystone Synposium "DNA Replication and Recombination" Santa Fe, NM. Poster Presentation. PC Swanson, M Zhang, and S Bergeron. "HMGB1 promotes structure-specific DNA cleavage by the RAG proteins via a nick-hairpin mechanism." 2008
  • Keystone Synposium "DNA Replication and Recombination" Santa Fe, NM. Poster Presentation. S Kumar and PC Swanson "Evidence for long-range RAG1/2 interactions with coding sequences in discrete V(D)J initiation complexes assembled on coupled cleavage substrates" 2008
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology REsearch Group Oral Presentation "Linking DNA breaks to DNA repair in V(D)J recombination" 2007
  • CUSOM Innovation in Basic Science and Clinical Research, Joselyn Art Museum Omaha NE. P Raval, AN Kriatchko, and PC Swanson. Poster Presentation. "Evidence for Ku70/80 association with full-length RAG1" 2007
  • CUSOM Innovation in Basic Science and Clinical Research, Joselyn Art Museum Omaha NE. SK Anderson, AE Hassaballa, K Parks, GA Perry and PC Swanson. Poster Presentation. "Immunodeficiency and accumulation of B1-like B cells in transgenic mice overexpressing catalytically inactive RAG1" 2007
  • UNMC Department of Pathology/Microbiology and Center for Leukemia and Lymphoma Research. "Links between V(D)J recombination and lymphoid cell malignancy: mechanisms and models" 2007
  • 94th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Immunologists. Miami, FL. PC Swanson, DK Anderson, AE Hassaballa, K Parks, and GA Perry. Poster Presentation. "Immunodeficiency and accumulation of B1-like B cells in transgenic mice overexpressing catalytically inactive RAG1" 2007
  • 94th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Immunologists. Miami, FL. P Raval, S Kumar, AN Kriatchko, and PC Swanson. Poster Presentation. "Evidence for Ku70/Ku80 association with full-length RAG1" 2007
  • 94th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Immunologists. Miami, FL. M Zhang and PC Swanson. Poster Presentation. "Recognition and cleavage of cryptic recombination signal sequences identified from lymphoid malignancies" 2007
  • St. Albert's Day Poster Session, Creighton University. M Zhang and PC Swanson. Poster Presentation. "Recognition and cleavage of cryptic recombination signal sequences identified from lymphoid malignancies" 2007
  • St. Albert's Day Poster Session, Creighton University. AN Kriatchko, DK Anderson, and PC Swanson. Poster Presentation. "Identification of a gain-of-function RAG1 mutant" 2007
  • 3rd Annual Nebraska Research and Innovation Conference. Poster Presentation. PC Swanson and GA Perry. "The Creighton University Flow Cytometry Core Facility: Machines and methods for high speed cell analysis and cell sorting." Quest Center Omaha, NE 2007
  • Oral Presentation "Molecular Science at Creighton University: A brief overview" Nebraska Biomedical Research Retreat, Quarry Oaks, NE 2006
  • EPSCoR 2006 Expo, Lincoln, NE Business Display for Creighton University Flow Cytometry Core Facility Perry, GA and PC Swanson 2006
  • ASM Conference "Mobile DNA" Banff, Alberta, Canada "Characterization of a Novel Gain-of-Function RAG-1 Mutant" 2006
  • 37th Midwest Student Biomedical Research Forum, Omaha NE AE Hassaballa (graduate student) Oral Presentation "Characterization of transgenic mice expressing catalytically inactive recombination activating gene 1" 2006
  • 37th Midwest Student Biomedical Research Forum, Omaha NE P Raval (postdoctoral fellow), S Kumar (postdoctoral fellow), and PC Swanson. Poster Presentation "Association of full-length RAG1 to Ku links the cleavage and joining phases of V(D)J recombination" 2006
  • 37th Midwest Student Biomedical Research Forum, Omaha NE A Kriatchko (graduate student), DK Anderson, and PC Swanson Poster Presentation "Characterization of a novel gain-of-function RAG-1 mutant" 2006
  • 37th Midwest Student Biomedical Research Forum, Omaha NE M Zhang (graduate student) and PC Swanson Poster Presentation "Recognition and cleavage of cryptic recombination signal sequences identified from lymphoid malignancies" 2006
  • Creighton University Department of Medicine Research Conference Omaha, NE "Autoimmunity and Immunodeficiency: A New Model Provides Insights into the Role of RAG-1" 2005
  • Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology Special Seminar Perry GA, and PC Swanson "Multicolor Cell Analysis and Cell Sorting Arrives at Creighton University" 2005
  • UNMC Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy seminar series. Omaha, NE "B cell development in transgenic mice overexpressing catalytically inactive RAG-1: implications for receptor editing and B1 versus B2 cell fate determination" 2005
  • Oral Presentation Immunology Interest Group, University of Nebraska Medical Center "B cell development in transgenic mice expressing catalytically inactive RAG-1" 2005
  • Bergeron S, Madathipirambil T, and Swanson PC. "Dissecting the structure-function relationship of HMGB1 in the initiation of V(D)J recombination in vitro". Poster presentation. Keystone Symposia: B cell development, function, and disease. Steamboat Springs, CO 2005
  • Hassaballa AE, Perry GA, Parks KW, Anderson D, and Swanson PC. "Accumulation of transitional B cells in transgenic mice expressing catalytically inactive RAG-1". Poster presentation. Keystone Symposia: B cell development, function, and disease. Steamboat Springs, CO 2005
  • Kriatchko AN, and Swanson PC. "Identification of a gain-of-function RAG-1 mutant". Poster presentation. Keystone Symposia: B cell development, function, and disease. Steamboat Springs, CO 2005
  • Oral Presentation Allergy Fellows Teaching Conference "Antibodies: structure, function, origins,and investigations therein" 2005
  • Introductory remarks American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Midtown 2005
  • Oral Presentation, Third Annual Microbiology Meeting, University of Nebraska, Lincoln "Recent Research on the V(D)J Recombinase" 2004
  • INBRE program seminar, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska "Antibodies: structure, function and origins of diversity" 2004
  • Hassaballa AE, Wang L, and Swanson PC. "Investigation of the dominant negative effect of catalytically deficient mutant RAG-1 in vivo. Poster presentation. Great Plains States Society for Molecular Biology and Genetics. Quest Center, Omaha, NE 2004
  • Kriatchko, A and Swanson, PC. "Identification of a gain-of-function RAG-1 mutant" Poster presentation. Greaat Plains States Society for Molecular Biology and Genetics. Quest Center, Omaha, NE. 2004
  • Bergeron, S and Swanson, PC. "Dissecting the stucture-function relationship of HMGB1 in the initiation of V(D)J recombination." Poster presentation. Great Plains States Society for Molecular Biology and Genetics. Quest Center, Omaha, NE. 2004
  • Raval, P and Swanson, PC. "P125 copurifies with DNA-PK and shares an immunoreactive domain with Artemis." Poster presentation. Great Plains States Society for Molecular Biology and Genetics. Quest Center, Omaha, NE. 2004
  • BRIN program seminar, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska "Antibodies: structure, function and origins of diversity" 2003
  • Poster presentation, AAI Immunology 2003, Denver, Colorado "The 'dispensable' regions of RAG-1 and RAG-2 play separable roles in regulating V(D)J recombinase activity in vitro" 2003
  • Oral presentation, AAI Immunology 2003, Denver, Colorado "The 'dispensable' regions of RAG-1 and RAG-2 play separable roles in regulating V(D)J recombinase activity in vitro" 2003
  • Oral Presentation, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, Nebraska "V(D)J recombination and the origins of immune repertoire diversity" 2003
  • Oral Presentation, Nucleic Acids Interest Group, Mahoney State Park "A RAG1/RAG2 tetramer supports synapsis, cleavage, and transposition of V(D)J recombination signals" 2002
  • Oral Presentation Immunology Interest Group University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, Nebraska "Characterization of RAG complexes supporting synapsis, cleavage, and transposition of V(D)J recombination signals" 2002
  • Poster Presentation 18th UICC Internation Cancer Congress, Oslo, Norway "A molecular characterization of RAG-1/RAG-2 synaptic complexes involved in V(D)J recombination" 2002
  • Third Annual Meeting: Great Plains States Society for Molecular Biology and Genetics;"12/23-Regulated Synapis,Cleavage, and Transposition of V (D)J Recombination Signals is Supported by a RAG-1/2 Tetramer Complex" Abstract and Poster Presentation 2002
  • Keystone Symposium on Molecular Mechanisms of DNA Replication and Recombination, Snowbird,UT"Comparison of catalytic activity and protein-DNA contacts in discrete RAG-RSS complexes lacking or containing HMG-1 or HMG-2" Abstract and Poster presentation 2002
  • AAAS Southwest and Rocky Mountain Division Meeting, Creighton University, "Assembly and Function of V (D)J Initiation Complexes" 2001
  • Nucleic Acids Interest Group, Mahoney State Park "Assembly and function of V(D)J initiation complexes" Oral Presentation 2001
  • American Cancer Society Relay for Life; Norfolk, Nebraska; Introductory remarks in opening ceremony on the importance of cancer research and brief description my ACS funded research 2001
  • Great Plains States Society for Molecular Biology and Genetics "Incorporation of HMG-1 or HMG-2 into V(D)J recombination pre-initiation complexes assembled on 23-RSS substrates stabilizes protein-DNA contacts at the heptamer and correlates with enhanced DNA cleavage activity" Poster Presentation 2001
  • AAAS SWARM Meeting "The V(D)J recombinase cleaves DNA in trans" Oral Presentation 2000
  • Immunology Interest Group Meeting, UNMC "Roles of RAG-1 and RAG-2 in V(D)J recombination" Oral Presentation 2000
  • Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK "The roles of RAG-1 and RAG-2 in the recognition and cleavage of V(D)J recombination signals" Invited Presentation 2000
  • Immunology 2000, Seattle, WA "The V(D)J recombinase cleaves DNA in trans" Poster and Oral Presentation 2000
  • Carleton College, Northfield, MN "The assembly of the antigen receptor genes: how RAG-1 and RAG-2 initiate V(D)J recombination" Invited Presentation Poster and Oral Presentation 2000
  • St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN "The assembly of the antigen receptor genes: how RAG-1 and RAG-2 initiate V(D)J recombination" Invited Presentation Poster and Oral Presentation 2000
  • VA Hospital 1999
  • Distinct Roles for RAG-1 and RAG-2 in V(D)J Recombination Signal Recognition and Initiation Complex Assembly Keystone Symposium on B Lymphocyte Biology and Disease February 1999 1999

Awards

  • Intramural Research Award
    Golden Apple Award Nomination for Excellence in Teaching by M1 students
  • Intramural Research Award
    Young Investigator Award Creighton University School of Medicine
  • Intramural Research Award
    Albert Lehninger Research Prize, Young Investigators' Day, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, April 1999
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