Min Laboratory

Telomeres are short repeat sequences (TTAGGG) located at the end of chromosomes and protect the DNA from degradation. Successive replication cycles shortens the chromosomes and trigger senescence or cell death. Telomere maintenance mechanisms elongate the telomeres, such as telomerase, leading to cell immortality, a hallmark of cancer.

Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) is a telomerase-independent mechanism primarily mediated through break-induced replication (BIR). ALT-positive cancers exhibit distinctive biomarkers which may be therapeutic targets for cancer treatment, including extrachromosomal telomeric circular DNA. The formation of C-circles and G-circles (CCCTAA and TTAGGG ssDNA respectively) are largely undefined due to their relatively low abundance and the absence of a suitable model system for their study.

Our lab develops new techniques for characterizing ALT-specific mechanisms, including the 4SET assay, designed for the direct detection of linear C-rich ssDNAs and C-circles (Lee et al. 2024) and Indel-Seq, designed for monitoring insertions and deletions (indels) at double strand break (DSB) sites (Min et al. 2023).

Our recent studies reveal that excessive displacement of Okazaki fragments during lagging-strand synthesis is a unique characteristic of ALT telomeres (Lee et al. 2024; Jiang et al. 2024; Lee et al. 2025), driving the formation of C-circles and linear C-rich ssDNAs (Lee et al. 2024). The distinct features and detailed mechanisms underlying ALT cancers remain an intriguing area of investigation (Lee et al. 2025).

Our lab is known for its exceptionally supportive and collaborative environment, an ideal setting for PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers to thrive. As a key member of our team, you will benefit from interactions with outstanding fellows and a committed Principal Investigator focused on deepening our understanding of telomere biology and genome instability. Engage in enriching discussions and receive nurturing mentorship that will foster your growth into an independent scientist.