Hong Wang
Bio
Hong Wang obtained her Ph. D. in physics from the University of North Carolina in 2003 specializing in materials and biophysics. She then took a postdoctoral training from 2004-2008 in DNA repair and single-molecule imaging, at the U. S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Following this, she then served from 2008-2011 in a postdoctoral training in telomere biology and single-molecule imaging at the University of Pittsburgh. She joined the department of Physics in the fall of 2011 bring with her a highly competitive NIH grant.
Area(s) of Expertise
Her research focuses on single-molecule experimental investigations of the structure-function relationships that govern the maintenance of telomeres. Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures that cap the ends of linear chromosomes. Dysfunctional telomeres are important contributing factors in aging and tumorigenesis. Telomeric DNA sequences show a higher susceptibility to certain DNA damaging agents than random DNA sequences. The goal of her current research is to use two highly innovative and complementary single-molecule imaging techniques (atomic force microscopy and fluorescence imaging) together with quantum dot labeled proteins to investigate the effects of DNA damage on the conformational and dynamic properties of telomeric DNA structure and telomere binding proteins. She work concentrates on dynamic protein-DNA interactions in real time and at the single-molecule level using techniques developed by her group to perform a unique DNA tight-rope assay. This assay has enabled visualization of DNA in its extended form several micrometers above the surface and to observe movements of individual proteins with up to 17 nm positional accuracy and 50 ms temporal resolution using oblique-angle fluorescence microscopy.
Publications
- Single-molecule fluorescence imaging of DNA maintenance protein binding dynamics and activities on extended DNA , CURRENT OPINION IN STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY (2024)
- Assembly path dependence of telomeric DNA compaction by TRF1, TIN2, and SA1 , BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL (2023)
- High-speed AFM imaging reveals DNA capture and loop extrusion dynamics by cohesin-NIPBL , JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY (2023)
- PARP1 associates with R-loops to promote their resolution and genome stability , NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH (2023)
- Single-molecule imaging of genome maintenance proteins encountering specific DNA sequences and structures , DNA REPAIR (2023)
- Structure-specific roles for PolG2-DNA complexes in maintenance and replication of mitochondrial DNA , NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH (2023)
- Densely methylated DNA traps Methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 2 but permits free diffusion by Methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 3 , JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY (2022)
- Structural and dynamic basis of DNA capture and translocation by mitochondrial Twinkle helicase , NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH (2022)
- Structure, dynamics, and regulation of TRF1-TIN2-mediated trans- and cis-interactions on telomeric DNA , JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY (2021)
- Structure, dynamics, and regulation of TRF1-TIN2-mediated trans-and cis-interactions on telomeric DNA , Journal of Biological Chemistry (2021)