Rachel L. Flynn, PhD
Associate Professor, Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics
Biography
In the Laboratory of Genomic stability and Cancer Therapeutics we use a combination of biochemical and cell biological approaches to study the function of mammalian telomeres. Telomeres cap the ends of linear chromosomes and provide a molecular barrier for the human genome. Following each cell division, progressive telomere shortening erodes that barrier and compromises the stability of the genome. Critically short, or dysfunctional telomeres induce replicative senescence and/or cell death and ultimately, lead to cellular aging. Cancer cells, however, overcome the replicative senescence associated with critically short telomeres by exploiting mechanisms of telomere elongation. The focus of my lab is to understand the mechanisms regulating mammalian telomere maintenance and to understand how defects in this process contribute to premature aging and cancer progression. The hope is that these studies will allow us to gain the mechanistic insight necessary to define novel targets and/or strategies in the treatment of human disease.
Other Positions
- Associate Professor, Hematology & Medical Oncology, Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
- Peter Paul Career Development Professorship, Boston University
- Member, BU-BMC Cancer Center, Boston University
- Co-Director, Genome Science Institute, Boston University
- Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad Students), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences
Education
- University of Massachusetts Medical School, PhD
- Saint Michael's College, BS
Classes Taught
- GMSMM703
- GMSPM710
Publications
- Published on 3/25/2023
Zamalloa LG, Pruitt MM, Hermance NM, Gali H, Flynn RL, Manning AL. RB loss sensitizes cells to replication-associated DNA damage by PARP inhibition. bioRxiv. 2023 Mar 25. PMID: 36993348.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 9/20/2021
Floro J, Dai A, Metzger A, Mora-Martin A, Ganem NJ, Cifuentes D, Wu CS, Dalal J, Lyons SM, Labadorf A, Flynn RL. SDE2 is an essential gene required for ribosome biogenesis and the regulation of alternative splicing. Nucleic Acids Res. 2021 09 20; 49(16):9424-9443. PMID: 34365507.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 4/26/2020
Mason-Osann E, Terranova K, Lupo N, Lock YJ, Carson LM, Flynn RL. RAD54 promotes alternative lengthening of telomeres by mediating branch migration. EMBO Rep. 2020 06 04; 21(6):e49495. PMID: 32337843.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 9/13/2019
Flynn RL, Heaphy CM. Surviving Telomere Attrition with the MiDAS Touch. Trends Genet. 2019 11; 35(11):783-785. PMID: 31526614.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 8/22/2019
Panier S, Maric M, Hewitt G, Mason-Osann E, Gali H, Dai A, Labadorf A, Guervilly JH, Ruis P, Segura-Bayona S, Belan O, Marzec P, Gaillard PHL, Flynn RL, Boulton SJ. SLX4IP Antagonizes Promiscuous BLM Activity during ALT Maintenance. Mol Cell. 2019 10 03; 76(1):27-43.e11. PMID: 31447390.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 1/1/2019
Mason-Osann E, Gali H, Flynn RL. Resolving Roadblocks to Telomere Replication. Methods Mol Biol. 2019; 1999:31-57. PMID: 31127568.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 1/1/2019
Gali H, Mason-Osann E, Flynn RL. Direct Visualization of DNA Replication at Telomeres Using DNA Fiber Combing Combined with Telomere FISH. Methods Mol Biol. 2019; 1999:319-325. PMID: 31127588.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 8/28/2018
Mason-Osann E, Dai A, Floro J, Lock YJ, Reiss M, Gali H, Matschulat A, Labadorf A, Flynn RL. Identification of a novel gene fusion in ALT positive osteosarcoma. Oncotarget. 2018 Aug 28; 9(67):32868-32880. PMID: 30214690.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 1/28/2016
Cox KE, Maréchal A, Flynn RL. SMARCAL1 Resolves Replication Stress at ALT Telomeres. Cell Rep. 2016 Feb 9; 14(5):1032-40. PMID: 26832416.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 1/16/2015
Flynn RL, Cox KE, Jeitany M, Wakimoto H, Bryll AR, Ganem NJ, Bersani F, Pineda JR, Suvà ML, Benes CH, Haber DA, Boussin FD, Zou L. Alternative lengthening of telomeres renders cancer cells hypersensitive to ATR inhibitors. Science. 2015 Jan 16; 347(6219):273-7. PMID: 25593184.
Read at: PubMed
View 10 more publications: View full profile at BUMC