Hadjikyriacou, Androulla (Andrea) (2013 - 2016)
Andrea is in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. She joined the training program in 2013. Her research mentor is Dr. Steve Clarke. She received a B.S. degree from the U. Massachusetts
Mentor: Dr. Steve Clarke
Protein Arginine Methyltransferases (PRMTs) make up a family of enzymes that transfer methyl groups onto arginine residues and play important roles in DNA repair, epigenetics, splicing, transcriptional control and signaling. PRMTs are known to catalyze three different reactions. Type I PRMTs catalyze the formation of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and w-NG-monomethylarginine (MMA). Type II PRMTs catalyze symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA)and MMA formation and type III only form MMA. While several PRMTs have been extensively characterized, PRMT9 (4q31) activity and substrate specificity remain unknown. My thesis research combines biochemical, proteomic, and molecular genetic techniques to elucidate the role and importance of PRMT9. My work also includes further characterizing and studying other PRMTs such as PRMT7.
