Tyler M. Weaver
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
Charlottesville, Virginia 22908
Bio & Overview
The genomic DNA of eukaryotes is packaged into chromatin through a fundamental repeating unit known as the nucleosome. In this chromatin environment, our genomic DNA is constantly exposed to a variety of endogenous and exogenous sources of DNA damage. This DNA damage must be effectively repaired to prevent mutagenesis, genomic instability, and human disease (e.g. cancer). Importantly, the nucleosome and higher-order chromatin structure are key regulatory barriers that must be overcome to successfully repair DNA damage and maintain genome stability. How DNA repair proteins overcome this barrier to repair and the role of chromatin-modifying enzymes in facilitating DNA repair pathways remains poorly understood. The overarching goal of the Weaver Lab is to determine mechanisms of DNA repair in the context of chromatin, and harness these mechanistic insights to improve human health. The lab address fundamental questions at the interface of the DNA repair and chromatin biology fields using a powerful combination of biochemistry, single-molecule fluorescence microscopy, structural biology, and cell biology techniques.
Academic Information
- Department
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
Primary Education
- B.S., Biology, Florida State Universitynull
- Ph.D., Biochemistry, University of Iowanull
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, DNA Repair/Chromatin Biology, University of Kansas Medical Centernull
Research Interests
Research Disciplines
- Biochemistry
- Biophysics
- Cancer Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Structural Biology
Research Opportunities
- Biochemistry
- Biophysics & Structural Biology
- Cancer Biology
- Epigenetics
PhD Programs
- Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics
Selected Publications
Publication Highlights:
(1) Weaver, T.M., Hoitsma, N.M., Spencer, J.J., Gakhar, L., Schnicker, N.J., and Freudenthal, B.D. (2022) Structural basis for APE1 processing DNA damage in the nucleosome. Nature Communications. PMC9474862.
(2) Cordero, C.,*, Mehta, K.P.M. *, Weaver, T.M.*, Ling, J.A., Freudenthal, B.D., Cortez, D., and Roberts, S.A. (2024) Contributing factors to the oxidation-induced mutational landscape in human cells. Nature Communications. PMC11666792. *Co-first Authors
(3) Ramakrishnan, N., Weaver, T.M., Aubuchon, L.N., Woldegerima, A., Just, T., Song, K., Vindigni, A., Freudenthal, B.D., Verma, P. (2024) Nucleolytic processing of abasic sites underlies PARP inhibitor hypersensitivity in ALC1-deficient BRCA mutant cancer cells. Nature Communications. PMC11283519.
(4) Weaver, T.M.*, Ryan, B.J.*, Thompson, S.H., Hussen, A.S., Spencer, J.J., Xu, Z., Schnicker, N.J., and Freudenthal, B.D. (2025) Structural basis of gap-filling DNA synthesis in the nucleosome by DNA polymerase Beta. Nature Communications. PMC11580861. *Co-first Authors
A complete list of my peer-reviewed publications may be found at:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/tyler.weaver.1/bibliography/public/