Photo of Irina  Bezsonova, PhD

Irina Bezsonova, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics
Academic Office Location:
Molecular Biology and Biophysics
UConn Health
263 Farmington Avenue
Room E2031
Farmington, CT 06030
Phone: 860-679-2769
Fax: 860-679-3408
Email: bezsonova@uchc.edu
Website(s):

Lab Website

Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Program

Education
DegreeInstitutionMajor
MSMoscow State UniversityBioorganic Chemistry
PhDUniversity of TorontoStructural Biology

Post-Graduate Training
TrainingInstitutionSpecialty
FellowshipInternational Soros Science Education ProgramOutstanding achievements in the study of science
M.S. Studies Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RASMember, protein engineering group of Dr. A.A. Schulga in the NMR laboratory of Prof. A.S. Arseniev
FellowshipMoscow State UniversityOvchinnikov fellowship for outstanding graduate students in biochemistry
FellowshipCanadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Training Program in Protein Folding
PostdoctoralStructural Genomics ConsortiumPost-doctoral studies in the laboratory of Dr. C.H. Arrowsmith

Awards
Name of Award/HonorAwarding Organization
2019 Osborn Award for Excellence in Biomedical Science Graduate TeachingUConn Health
USP7 - A Potential Drug Target for Treatment of CancerConnecticut Department of Public Health, Biomedical Research Fund
Child Health Research AwardCharles H. Hood Foundation
Postdoctoral Fellowship Award (Declined)CIHR - Canadian Institute of Health Research

Foundations of Biomedical Science (MEDS6448)


Biochemistry II

Name & DescriptionCategoryRoleTypeScopeStart YearEnd Year
Biomedical Sciences Graduate Admissions CommitteeOtherMemberUConn HealthUniversity20232023
Graduate Program CommitteeOtherDirector of MBB area of concentrationUConn HealthUniversity20172022
UConn Health - American Association of University ProfessorsProfessional/Scientific Organizationmember of CBCUConn HealthUniversity20152019
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyProfessional/Scientific OrganizationmemberExternalNational20132018
North Eastern Structure SymposiumWorkshop/ConferenceChairOtherRegional20132013
American Heart AssociationProfessional/Scientific OrganizationmemberExternalNational20122013
American Association of Cancer ResearchProfessional/Scientific OrganizationmemberExternalNational20112012
PARTNERSHIP FOR EXCELLENCE IN STRUCTURAL BIOLOGYProfessional/Scientific OrganizationmemberOtherRegional2010

Ubiquitination and Cancer:
The p53 signaling pathway is a complex multi-component network central to cancer biology. Over 50% of all tumors have mutated tumor suppressor p53. The primary focus of my reasearch is structural and biochemical characterization of proteins and protein complexes of p53 pathway, especially, proteins responsible for maintenance of an appropriate level of p53 in the cell such as E3 ubiquitin ligase Hdm2 and ubiquitin-specific protease USP7. We use structural biology tools, NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography, in conjunction with other biophysical and biochemical methods to determine 3D structures of proteins and characterize their interactions with specific binding partners. Detailed knowledge of protein structure provides the basis for rational design of new drugs suitable for anti-cancer therapies.


Ubiquitination and Epigenetics:
Epigenetic marks work as molecular switches that regulate expression of our genes without altering the DNA sequence itself. It is through epigenetic marks that environmental factors like diet, stress and prenatal nutrition can make an imprint on genes that is passed from one generation to the next. These marks include modifications of histone tails (methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination, etc) and DNA methylation. Ubiquitination of residue K119 of the histone H2A, for example, is a hallmark of stably repressed developmental genes in stem cells and inactive X-chromosome.


We study Polycomb Repressive Complexes PRC1 and PRC2 responsible for developmental gene suppression and maintenance of “stemness” of a cell. PRC2 and PRC1 are multi-protein enzymatic complexes that methylate histone H3 and ubiquitinate histone H2A resulting in stable gene silencing. We are interested in structural organization of these complexes and molecular mechanism of gene recognition and gene silencing by these multi-subunit repressors.

Our lab studies structure, conformational dynamics and interactions of enzymes of ubiquitin-proteasome pathway relevant to human diseases. We use structural biology tools such as NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography, in conjunction with other biophysical and biochemical methods to determine atomic resolution 3D structures of proteins, characterize their dynamic behaviour, and map their interactions with binding partners. Detailed knowledge of protein structure is used to develop new drugs suitable for anti-cancer therapies.


Rotation Project 1: Screening of small molecule inhibitors of de-ubiquitinating enzyme USP7. This project is part of current NIH-funded research in the lab and directly translates into development of new anti-cancer treatments. A rotation student will gain experience in bacterial expression of recombinant human proteins, many aspects of protein purification, including multiple chromatography techniques, and will be introduced to major structural biology methods such as biomolecular NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.


Rotation Project 2: The role of conformational dynamics in USP7 function. USP7 is a dynamic enzyme that can adopt active and inactive conformations in solution. Although structure of the enzyme is known it provides only a static snapshot of the enzyme in action.  The aim of this project is to characterize conformational dynamics of the enzyme in solution. This is part of a larger USP7 work that is currently funded by NIH and NSF. A rotating student will learn advanced protein biochemistry and biomolecular NMR.


Rotation Project 3: Analysis of mutations of patients with USP7-related diseases. This project will test the effect of know pathogenic mutations of USP7 on structure and function of the enzyme. During rotation a student will gain extensive experience in moleular biology, protein biochemistry and molecular modeling.


Rotation Project 4: Promyelocytic Leukemia and enzymatic function of PML protein. This project will focus on uncovering enzymatic function of a PML protein implicated in Promyelocytic Leukemia, a type of human cancer. It is a part of a larger NIH-funded project in the lab aimed at understanding molecular mechanism of PML action and discovery of new treatments for Promyelocytic Leukemia. A student is expected to learn advanced protein biochemistry techniques, develop enzymatic assays, become familiar with NMR spectroscopy, and molecular modeling.


Rotation Project 5: Angelman Syndrome and UBE3a enzyme. This project will focus on revealing structural and functional differences between protein isoforms of UBE3a enzyme implicated in Angelman syndrome and autism spectrum disorders. During rotation a student will be exposed to major protein biochemistry and biophysical methods as well as protein modeling approaches. This is a collaborative project with Dr. Chamberlain.

Accepting Lab Rotation Students: Fall Block 2024, Spring 1 and 2 Block 2025

Journal Articles

Reviews

Title or AbstractTypeSponsor/EventDate/YearLocation
Structural characterization of the interaction between Ubiquitin Specific Protease 7 and Icp0 from HSV1 virusPoster12th North Eastern Structure Symposium2015UConn, Storrs, CT
Hijacked by a Virus: Structural Insights into Substrate Specificity of Ubiquitin Specific Protease 7 (USP7)TalkAuremen 15th Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Users Meeting2015Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Structural characterization of the interaction between Ubiquitin Specific Protease 7 and Icp0 from HSV1 virus.Poster56th Experimental NMR Conference2015Pacific Grove, CA
Structural insight into the mechanism of USP7 autoregulationPosterWesleyan University Molecular Biophysics Program2015Middletown, CT
Structural insight into the mechanism of USP7 auto-regulationPosterUConn Health, Molecular Biology and Biophysics2015Bristol, CT
Structural and functional characterization of C-terminal region of Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 7Poster54th Experimental Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Conference (ENC)2013Pacific Grove CA, USA
Solution NMR structure of Rev1 C-terminal domain and its complex with Pol(eta) peptidePoster The 9th Annual North Eastern Structure Symposium NESS 20122012Farmington, CT
Solution NMR structure of Rev1 C-terminal domain and its complex with Pol(eta) peptidePosterMMSB Retreat2012Farmington, CT
Ubiquitin-like Domains: from Cancer to EpigeneticsTalkInauguration of the 'Science without Borders' project2012Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Solution NMR structure of Rev1 C-terminal domain and its complex with Pol(eta) peptidePoster53rd Experimental Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Conference (ENC)2012Miami, FL, USA
NMR studies of interactions between mutagenic translesion synthesis DNA polymerases Rev1, pol(eta) and pol(zeta)Poster53rd Experimental Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Conference (ENC)2012Miami, FL, USA
NMR studies of interactions between mutagenic translesion synthesis DNA polymerases Rev1, pol(eta) and pol(zeta)PosterThe 9th Annual North Eastern Structure Symposium NESS 20122012Farmington, CT
Solution structure of PHD domain from human SHPRH and its interaction with methylated histonesPosterThe 9th Annual North Eastern Structure Symposium NESS 20122012Farmington, CT
USP7 C-terminal Region is a Potential Drug Target in Pediatric NeuroblastomaPosterThe 9th Annual North Eastern Structure Symposium NESS 20122012Farmington, CT
USP7 C-terminal Region is a Potential Drug Target in Pediatric NeuroblastomaPosterHood Foundation Scientific Poster Session and Dinner2012Boston, MA
NMR studies of Usp7 - regulator of p53 tumor suppressor and more...TalkMMSB retreat2011West Hartford, CT