Dr. Joseph Loparo

Biography

Joseph John Loparo is a Professor in the Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at Harvard University. His research focuses on the dynamics of multiprotein complexes involved in genome maintenance, with particular interest in single-molecule methods. His laboratory employs a range of innovative techniques to study DNA damage tolerance and repair mechanisms, notably translesion synthesis (TLS), where error-prone polymerases are recruited to bypass DNA lesions that obstruct replication. They utilize a model system based on the E. coli replisome to analyze the site-specific recruitment of these polymerases. The lab is additionally investigating non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), a major pathway for repairing DNA double-strand breaks, using single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to visualize repair processes directly. Loparo's research also delves into the molecular mechanisms behind bacterial chromosome compaction and segregation, particularly through the study of nucleoid-associated proteins and structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) proteins that organize and segregate chromosomes during cell division. His current work aims to elucidate the assembly and regulation of these complexes both in vitro and within living cells, significantly contributing to the understanding of chromosome dynamics and genome stability.

Research Interests