Malathy Puthan Shekhar, Ph.D.
Malathy Puthan Shekhar, Ph.D.
Office address
421 E. Canfield Street, Suite 1148
Detroit, MI 48201
Department
Oncology
Research interests
• Breast Cancer and melanoma research
• Current projects:
Crosstalk between Translesion DNA synthesis and BRCA-dependent DNA repair pathways in triple negative breast cancer
Cell metabolism reprogramming in drug resistance
Elucidation of Rad6 involvement in Wnt/beta-catenin activation and melanomagenesis
Research description
The goal of our research is to understand the molecular and cellular basis of breast cancer and melanoma development and progression. Our laboratory uses in vivo and in vitro three-dimensional culture systems to investigate the contributions of host stromal interactions in melanoma and breast cancer development and therapy responses. These studies have uncovered a novel role for Rad6 in activation of canonical Wnt signaling besides its bonafide function in the translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) pathway. Our laboratory developed the first Rad6-selective small molecule inhibitor. Using this inhibitor and CrispR technology, we are interrogating Rad6/TLS crosstalk with DNA double strand break repair mechanisms and Rad6 crosstalk with canonical Wnt signaling, and developing strategies to harness its therapeutic potential for treatment of melanoma and triple negative breast cancer.
PubMed - my bibliography
Education/training
PhD in Biochemistry, The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.