P. Renee Yew, Ph.D.

Our research is focused on understanding how the cell cycle is regulated and coordinated to maintain faithful genomic integrity.  We have studied the regulation of S phase entry, a major checkpoint of cell division, when cells must correctly and with high fidelity initiate DNA replication while preventing re-initiation and re-replication.  Misregulation of this transition leads to genomic instability, a hallmark of cancer.  We use both mammalian cells and extracts from the frog, Xenopus laevis, to study cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, replication factors, ubiquitin ligases, and tumor suppressors that are key regulators of the cell cycle.  We strive to understand the roles of these factors in genome maintenance and how to correct the consequences of their aberrant regulation in cancer.

• Professional Background

  Education

  • 1993 - PhD - Microbiology and Molecular Genetics - University of California, Los Angeles
  • 1985 - MA - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - University of California, Santa Barbara
  • 1983 - AB - Genetics - University of California, Berkeley
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - Harvard Medical School

  Appointments

  • 9/2006 - Associate Professor - The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Molecular Medicine, San Antonio

• Instruction & Training

  • - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
  • 1/2013 - Present, Rotation Student Supervision, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
  • 12/2012 - Present, Post-Doctoral Student Supervision, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
  • 11/2011 - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, The University of Texas at San Antonio
  • 11/2011 - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
  • 8/2011 - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
  • 6/2011 - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
  • 5/2011 - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
  • 5/2011 - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
  • 1/2010 - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
  • 1/2010 - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
  • 1/2009 - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, The University of Texas Health Science Center
  • 1/2009 - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
  • 1/2009 - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
  • 1/2007 - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
  • 1/2007 - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
  • 1/2006 - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio

• Research & Grants

  Cell cycle regulation and cancer

  Our research is focused on understanding how the cell cycle is regulated and coordinated to maintain faithful genomic integrity and cell proliferation.  We have studied the regulation of S phase entry, a major checkpoint of cell division, when cells must correctly and with high fidelity initiate DNA replication while preventing re-initiation and re-replication. 

  Research profile

• Publications

  Journal Article

  Nair BC, Nair SS, Chakravarty D, Challa R, Manavathi B, Yew PR, Kumar R, Tekmal RR, Vadlamudi RK. Cyclin-dependent kinase-mediated phosphorylation plays a critical role in the oncogenic functions of PELP1 Cancer Res 2010 Sep;70(18):7166-7175.