Christopher Zerio Email & Phone Number

San Diego, California, United States

San Diego, California, United States

Mentor: Gabriel Lander, Ph.D.Cells with mutations in DNA damage repair genes upregulate DNA polymerase theta to perform an alternate, carcinogenic DNA repair pathway called theta mediated end-joining. My postdoctoral research aimed to answer the question: How does the helicase domain of DNA polymerase theta facilitate theta mediated end-joining? To address this aim, I used biochemical assays to identify oligonucleotide substrates that could be used in cryo-EM studies with the helicase, and I used single particle cryo-EM to investigate the molecular determinants and biological relevance of the helicase-DNA interaction.Preprint: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.04.26.591388v1

Tucson, Az

Mentor: Eli Chapman, Ph.DMy graduate studies focused on discovery and development of small molecule inhibitors of proteins that act as nodes of convergence in cancer. I optimized biochemical assays and employed them as high-throughput screens for small-molecule inhibitors, developed orthogonal biochemical and biophysical assays to test binding potency and functional inhibition, and synthesized analogs of these inhibitors to improve potency. This experience led me to appreciate the importance of structural biology in drug development campaigns, which inspired me to pursue X-ray crystallography and protein NMR to explore structure-activity relationships of inhibitors. Through these studies, I developed a passion for structural biology and decided to pursue a postdoc to become an expert in cryo-electron microscopy.

Tacoma, Wa

Mentor: John Hanson, Ph.D.I designed an organic synthesis route and performed carbohydrate chemistry to synthesize NAG-NAM peptidoglycan derivatives of the bacterial cell wall to be studied as substrates for T4 lysozyme.

Ph.D., Pharmaceutical Sciences, Drug Discovery And Development Emphasis

Activities and Societies: Rho Chi Honor Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy Graduate Student Council, Drug Discovery.

B.S., Biochemistry

Activities and Societies: Varsity baseball captain, Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, Phi Delta Theta fraternity