University of Pennsylvania · BiochemistryBernstein DNA Lab
Kara A Bernstein · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Research Focus
Dr. Kara A. Bernstein's lab at the University of Pennsylvania focuses on understanding how a particular protein complex, called the Shu complex, helps repair DNA damage caused by environmental factors. They study both yeast and human cells to learn about the mechanisms of DNA repair and how disruptions in these processes can lead to cancer. By exploring these fundamental processes, the lab aims to uncover new insights that could help identify individuals at greater risk for cancer due to mutations in the genes involved.
DNA repairRNA sequencinggenetic stabilitycancer predispositionalkylation damageDNA replicationRad51homologous recombinationgene regulationhuman health
Research Aims
4AIM 01Investigate the role of the Shu complex in DNA repair mechanisms after alkylation damage.
AIM 02Elucidate how the Shu complex promotes stability of the replication fork during DNA replication stress.
AIM 03Identify key protein interactions involved in the regulation of the DNA damage response.
AIM 04Assess the impact of mutations in Shu complex components on cancer susceptibility in human populations.
Skills the Lab Values
PCRcell cultureyeast geneticsWestern blotChIP-seqDNA sequencingprotein purificationcomparative genomicsdata analysismicroscopy
Output against the department
Publications109bottom 28% of dept.290th of 402
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations4.2kbottom 23% of dept.308th of 402
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.