Pharmacology Faculty

Hiroshi Hiasa, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Pharmacology

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Publications

Research Interests

Topoisomerases are essential enzymes that catalyze DNA unlinking.  As such, these enzymes play critical roles in almost every aspect of DNA metabolism, especially DNA replication and chromosome segregation.  Their importance is underscored by the fact that these enzymes are the cellular targets of certain anticancer drugs in eukaryotes and, in prokaryotes, both DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV are the targets of the most potent broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs.  The focus of my laboratory is to understand the molecular basis of the cytotoxicity of topoisomerase inhibitors.  We employ biochemical assays to investigate the mechanisms of drug action and the cellular responses to drug treatment.  In addition, we are involved in the discovery of novel topoisomerase inhibitors with anticancer or antibacterial activity.

We also study proteins that regulate the global structure and function of the chromosome.  We are working on identifying proteins that modulate both the superhelicity of the chromosome and global transcription, as well as determining their mode of action.