Mahrukh Azam

Mahrukh Azam
  • Professor
  • Department Chair
  • Department: Chemistry
  • Institution: West Chester University of Pennsylvania
  • Email: MAzam@wcupa.edu

Education

  • Ph.D., Biochemistry, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ
  • M.S., Biochemistry, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ
  • M.S., Chemistry, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • B.S., Chemistry, Punjab University, Pakistan

Research Interests

four stranded G-rich quadruplex (GQ) DNA

Opportunities

Work Study Positions Available: No

Grant Funded Positions Available: No

Course-Credit Research Opportunities Available: No

Volunteer Research Positions Available: No

Biography

My area of research is studying the four stranded G-rich quadruplex (GQ) DNA. The DNA sequences with GQ-forming potential are found throughout the genome and at the telomeric ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. Recent biological studies suggest that GQs might have important biological functions directly related to cancer, thus quadruplexes have emerged as a novel therapeutic target for the development of anticancer drugs. Design and use of novel small-molecule ligands that can bind to and stabilize, and/or facilitate the formation or interconversion of various types of GQs has become an area of high interest.

Contact Information

Phone: 610-436-2982

List of Publications

  • Boschi, E., Davis, S., Taylor, Butterworth, A., Chirayath, A. L., Purohit, V., Siegel, L., Buenaventura, J., S., Sheriff A., Jin, R., Sheardy, R., Yatsunyk, L., Azam, M., “ Interaction of a Cationic Porphyrin TMPyP4 and its Metal Derivatives with G-quadruplex DNA” Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2016, 120, 12807-12819 Pagán, O.R., Rowlands, A. L., Azam, M., Urban, K.R., Bidja, A.H., Roy, D.M., Feeney, R.B., Afshari, L.K.* "Reversal of cocaine-induced planarian behavior by parthenolide and related sesquiterpene lactones" Pharmacology Biochemistry Behavior, 2008, 89, 160-170 Azam, M., Lee, J., Abraham, V., Chanoux, R., Schoenly, K., Johnson, F.B. "Evidence that the S. cerevisiae Sgs1 protein facilitates recombinational repair of telomeres during senescence" Nucleic Acids Research, 2006, 34, 506-516 Anantha, N.V., Azam, M., Sheardy, R. "Porphyrin Binding to Quadruplexed T4G4" Biochemistry, 1998, 37, 2709-2714

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