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John M. Essigmann is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His research focuses on the mechanisms of cellular responses to DNA damaging agents, including radiation and chemical carcinogens. Essigmann's work explores how repair enzymes interact with structural damage in DNA, particularly regarding how adducts can evade repair and contribute to the mutagenesis associated with cancer. His studies often involve synthesizing oligonucleotides that contain specific DNA adducts to understand their biological implications. Techniques such as recombinant DNA are employed to insert these modified oligonucleotides into viral genomes at predefined sites. His laboratory investigates the impacts of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin) on DNA, discovering that it forms adducts that interfere with DNA replication and transcription in tumor cells. Current research initiatives also focus on programmable therapeutics, including bifunctional molecules that combine DNA-damaging agents with molecular recognition domains to target proteins expressed in tumors. This innovative approach aims to refine cancer therapies, particularly in breast and prostate cancers, by exploiting the properties of transcription factors that are typically overexpressed in cancer cells.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology • Cambridge, MA
Conduct research and teach in the Department of Chemistry, focusing on DNA damage and repair mechanisms.