Research Interests: Recombination-mediated genome rearrangements and loss of heterozygosity
Description: Mutations in the mismatch repair (MMR) genes are observed in ~20% of all human cancers, accounting for a high proportion of stomach, pancreatic, colon, and endometrial carcinomas. The activities of the MMR proteins Msh2, Msh3, and Msh6 are required not only to correct polymerase errors following DNA replication, but also to ensure the fidelity of homologous recombination (HR). HR is typically is considered a high-fidelity mechanism of DNA repair, but in the absence of the Msh proteins, it frequently utilizes a mismatched, or “homeologous”, donor sequence. This unrestrained recombination can result in hyper-recombination and cause genome rearrangements.
My project aims to define the heteroduplex rejection pathway in budding yeast and humans, and to understand the contribution of loss of this regulatory pathway to human health. To do so, I am using pathway analysis in combination with proximity ligation assays that measure two critical intermediates in the HR pathway, the nascent and the extended D-loop, which we predict will be targeted by the Msh proteins. In parallel, I am using long-read sequencing to analyze matched patient healthy tissue and tumor samples for evidence of non-allelic recombination in the absence of MSH2/6 relative to tumors with mutations in MLH1 and PMS2. Ultimately, the goal of my work is to address the contribution of loss of regulation of the HR pathway to carcinogenesis in MMR deficient tumors.
More information about my work can be found at: https://reitzdf.com/.
Education
2019 PhD in Genetics, Genomics, and Systems Biology, University of Chicago
2019 Master’s in Genetics, Genomics, and Systems Biology, University of Chicago
2012 Bachelor’s in Biology, Carleton College
Awards and Fellowships
2025 NIH/NIGMS K99 Career Development Award
2024 Postdoctoral Scholar Association Travel Grant, University of California, Davis
2023 Editorial Grant, Laura Bassi Scholarship, Editing Press
2022 DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics, Genetics Society of America
2021 A.P. Giannini Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowship and Leadership Award
2020 UC Davis Oncogenic Signal and Chromosome Biology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
2017 Honorable mention for the University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division Teaching Award
2013 University of Chicago Genetics and Regulation Training Grant
2011 NIH Summer Student Intramural Research Training Award Fellowship
2009 Kolenkow-Reitz Fellowship for Undergraduate Research
Publications
See PubMed.