Mitchell Valentine
Program: Cancer Biology
Current advisor: Rotating in the lab of Abby M. Green, MD
Undergraduate university: Case Western Reserve University
Research summary
Cytidine deamination caused by Apolipoprotein B messenger RNA editing catalytic polypeptide-like (APOBEC) enzymes are highly prevalent sources of mutagenesis in many human cancers. Specifically, APOBEC3A (A3A) enzymes catalyze the conversion of cytidine to uracil in ssDNA, creating the possibility for endogenous mutagenesis during DNA replication. Recent studies have identified A3A as upregulated in several cancer types following targeted therapy, with its upregulation recently being linked to cancer cell evolution and the development of therapeutic resistance. Despite these advances, many questions remain regarding the mechanism(s) through which such phenomena develop and persist. Thus, we are interested in uncovering the mechanisms by which A3A and associated mutagenesis may regulate targeted therapy sensitivity and resistance in human cancers.
Graduate publications