Chromatin is a higher order DNA structure and its proper regulation is crucial for the gene expression and genome integrity. While euchromatin corresponds to highly transcribed and expressed regions of DNA, heterochromatin spans regions of chromosomes, including subtelomeric regions, which are transcriptionally suppressed. Changes in heterochromatin maintenance contribute to aging and cancer formation in humans and I am investigating the mechanism of chromatin maintenance in eukaryotes using filamentous fungi as a model system.

2011                Basenko E. Y, Zeki Topcu and Michael J. McEachern. Recombinationcan either help maintain very short telomeres or generate longer telomeres inyeast cells with weak telomerase activity. Eukaryot. Cell. 10(8):1131-42.

2010                Basenko E.Y, Cesare A. J, Iyer S, Griffith J.D, McEachern M. J.Telomeric circles are abundant in the stn1-M1mutant that maintains its telomeres through recombination. Nucleic Acids Res.38(1):182-9.

2006                Peebles, E. D., BasenkoE. Y., Branton, S. L. , Whitmarsh, S. K. , and Gerard, P. D. Effects ofS6-strain Mycoplasma gallisepticum inoculation at 10, 22, or 45 weeks ofage on the digestive and reproductive organ characteristics of commercialegg-laying hens. Poultry Sci. 85:825-830.

Peebles, E. D., Basenko,E. Y., Branton, S. L., Whitmarsh, S. K., Maurice D. V., and Gerard, P. D. Effects of S6-strain Mycoplasmagallisepticum inoculation at ten, twenty-two, or forty-five weeks of age onthe egg yolk composition of commercial egg-laying hens. Poultry Sci.85:1502-1508.

Peebles, E. D., Basenko,E. Y., Branton, S. L., Whitmarsh, S. K., and Gerard, P. D., Effects of S6-strain Mycoplasma gallisepticuminoculation at ten, twenty-two, or forty-five weeks of age on the bloodcharacteristics of commercial egg-laying hens. Poultry Sci. 85:2012-2018.

2005                Basenko, E. Y., Peebles, E. D., Branton, S. L., Whitmarsh, S. K.,  and Gerard, P. D. Effects of S6-strain Mycoplasma gallisepticum inoculationat ten, twenty-two, or forty-five weeks of age on the performancecharacteristics of commercial egg laying hens. Poultry Sci. 84:1663-1670.