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Faculty

Biological Sciences has more than 60 full-time faculty members, as well as more than 20 faculty with joint appointments and 15 visiting or adjunct professors. Among its many distinctions and honors, the Ph.D. program faculty includes two members of the National Academy of Sciences, four members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and 18 holders of endowed chairs and professorships.

Susan L. Forsburg

Professor of Biological Sciences

Contact Information
E-mail: forsburg@usc.edu
Phone: (213) 740-7342
Office: RRI 104C

LINKS
Personal Website
 

Education

  • A.B. English and Molecular Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 6/1984
  • Ph.D. Biology (genetics), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 5/1989

Postdoctoral Training

  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Imperial Cancer Research Fund/Oxford University, 08/01/1989-08/01/1993  

Academic Appointment, Affiliation, and Employment History

Tenure Track Appointments
  • Professor, University of Southern California, 2006-  
  • Associate Professor, University of Southern California, 2004-2006  
  • Associate Professor, Molecular & Cell Biology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 05/01/2000-05/31/2004  
  • Adjunct Associate Professor, Biology, University of California, San Diego, 05/01/2000-05/31/2004  
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Biology, University of California, San Diego, 01/01/1997-05/01/2000  
  • Assistant Professor, Molecular Biology & Virology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 09/01/1993-05/01/2000  
Visiting and Temporary Appointments
  • Visiting Professor in Genetics, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, 06/01/1995-08/01/1995  

Description of Research

Summary Statement of Research Interests
Professor Forsburg studies how chromosome duplication and maintenance contributes to overall genome stability in a model genetic system, the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Fission yeast is a simple, single-celled organism with chromosomes very similar to those in humans, and has proven to be an important model for cell division. Loss of genome integrity and deregulation of cell division is associated with cancer, so this is a fundamental form of cancer research. Forsburg takes a holistic approach to studying the contribution of DNA replication proteins to genome stability. Ongoing studies address the role of the MCM helicase in maintaining the structure of the replication fork; the function of recombination and repair proteins in maintaining genome structure during S phase, including during meiosis; and the contribution of chromatin-modifying proteins to replication and repair. The lab has a developing interest in understanding the links between DNA replication and the formation and function of the centromere. Forsburg’s group employs advanced imaging methods to complement their classical genetics, including live-cell studies with fluorescent proteins in real time, as well as application using fixed cells including observation of proteins on chromosome spreads and imaging of chromatin fibers.
Research Specialties
Cancer Biology, DNA replication, chromosome dynamics, genome integrity, genetics

Affiliations with Research Centers, Labs, and Other Institutions

  • USC/Norris Cancer Center, member

Publications

Journal Article
  • Bailis, J. M., Luche, D. D., Hunter, T., Forsburg, S. L. (2008). MCM proteins interact with checkpoint and recombination proteins to promote S phase genome stability. Mol Cell Biol. Vol. 28, pp. 1724-38.
  • Forsburg, S. L. (2008). The MCM helicase: at the interface of checkpoints and the replication fork. Bioch. Society Trans.. Vol. 36, pp. 114-119.
  • Gómez, E. B., Nugent, R. L., Laria, S., Forsburg, S. L. (2008). S. pombe histone acetyltransferase Mst1 (KAT5) is an essential protein required for damage response and chromosome segregation. Genetics. Vol. 179, pp. 757-771.
  • Tabancay, A. P., Forsburg, S. L. (2006). Eukaryotic DNA replication in a chromatin context. Curr Top Dev Biol. Vol. 76, pp. 129-84.
  • Freeman-Cook, L. L., Gómez, E. G., Spedale, E. J., Marlett, J., Pillus, L., Forsburg, S. L., Laurenson, P. (2005). Conserved locus-specific silencing functions of S. pombe sir2+. Genetics. Vol. 169, pp. 1243-1260.
  • Gómez, E. B., Angeles, V. T., Forsburg, S. L. (2005). A screen for S. pombe mutants defective in re-replication identifies new alleles of rad4+, cut9+ and psf2+. Genetics. pp. 77-89.
  • Gómez, E. B., Espinosa, J., Forsburg, S. L. (2005). S. pombe mst2+ encodes a MYST-family histone acetyltransferase required for telomere silencing. Mol. Cell. Biol.. Vol. 25, pp. 8887-8903.
  • Huang, H. K., Bailis, J. M., Leverson, J. D., Gomez, E. B., Forsburg, S. L., Hunter, T. (2005). Suppressors of Bir1p (Survivin) identify roles for the chromosomal passenger protein Pic1p (INCENP) and the replication initiation factor Psf2p in chromosome segregation. Mol. Cell. Biol.. Vol. 25, pp. 9000-9015.
  • Pankratz, D. G., Forsburg, S. L. (2005). Meiotic S-phase damage activates recombination without checkpoint arrest. Mol. Biol. Cell. Vol. 16, pp. 1651-1660.
  • Forsburg, S. L. (2004). Eukaryotic MCM proteins: beyond replication initiation. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev.. Vol. 68, pp. 109-131.
  • Bailis, J. M., Bernard, P., Antonelli, R., Allshire, R., Forsburg, S. L. (2003). Hsk1/Dfp1 is required for heterochromatin-mediated cohesion at centromeres. Nat. Cell Biol.. pp. 1111-1116.
  • Wood, V., Gwilliam, R., Rajandream, M., Lyne, M., Lyne, R., Stewart, A., Sgouros, J., Peat, N., Hayles, J., Baker, S., Basham, D., Bowman, S., Brooks, K., Brown, D., Brown, S., Fraser, T., Gentles, S., Goble, A., Hamlin, N., Harris, D., Hidalgo, J., Hodgson, G., Holroyd, S., Holroyd, S., Hornsby, T., Howarth, S., Huckle, E. J., Hunt, S., Jagels, K., James, K., Jones, L., Jones, M., Leather, S., Mcdonald, S., McLean, J., Moule, S., Mungail, K., Murphy, L., Niblett, D., Odell, C., Oliver, K., O'Neil, S., Pearson, D., Quail, M. A., Rabbinowitsch, E., Rutherford, K., Rutter, S., Saunders, D., Seeger, K., Sharp, S., skelton, J., Simmonds, M., Squares, R., Squares, s., Stevens, K., Taylor, K., Taylor, R. g., Walsh, S., Warren, T., Whitehead, S., Woodwrd, j., Volckaerv, G., Aert, R., Robben, J., Grymonprez, B., Weltjens, I., Vanstreels, E., Rieger, M., Schofer, M., Muller-Auer, S., Gabel, C., fuchs, M., Fritze, C., Holzer, E., Moestl, D., Hilbert, H., Borzym, K., Langer, I., Beck, A., Lehrach, H., Reinhardt, R., Pohl, T. M., Eger, P., Zimmermann, W., Wedler, H., Wambutt, r., Purnelle, B., Goffeau, A., Cadieu, E., Driano, S., Gloux, S., Lelaure, V., Mottier, S., Galibert, F., Aves, S. J., Xiang, Z., Hunt, C., Moore, K., Hurst, S. M., Lucas, M., Rochet, M., Gaillardin, C., Tailada, V. A., Garzon, A., Thode, G., Daga, R. r., Cruza, L. |. (2002). The genome sequence of the eukaryote fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Nature. Vol. 415, pp. 871-880.
  • Forsburg, S. L. (2001). The art and design of genetic screens: yeast. Nature Rev. Genet.. Vol. 2, pp. 659-668.
  • Forsburg, S. L., Hodson, J. A. (2000). Mitotic replication initiation proteins are not required for S. pombe pre-meiotic S phase. Nat. Genet.. Vol. 25, pp. 263-268.

Multimedia Scholarship and Creative Works

  • Web Page, Remembering Marguerite Vogt: a biography (web site) http://www-rcf.usc.edu/~forsburg/vogt.html, 2007-2008  
  • Web page, The Forsburg Lab pombe pages http://www-rcf.usc.edu/~forsburg/ or http://www.pombe.net, 1995-  
  • web site, Women in Biology Internet Launch Pages http://www-rcf.usc.edu/~forsburg/bio.html, 1997-  

Honors and Awards

  • USC faculty fellow, Center for Excellence in Research, 2008-  
  • Fellow, Association of Women in Science, 2006-2007   
  • Mellon Mentoring Award Certificate, USC, 2005-2006   
  • Fellow (or Equivalent) of National Society in Discipline, Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2004  
  • Recipient of National or International Prize in Discipline, Stohlman Scholar, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 2002  
  • Recipient of National or International Prize in Discipline, American Society for Cell Biology WICB Junior Career Recognition Award, 1996  

Service to the Profession

Professional Memberships
  • American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2007-  
  • Association for Women in Science, 1995-  
  • American Society for Cell Biology, 1994-  
  • American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1993-  
  • Genetics Society of America, 1990-  
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Contact - Glen Smith - Department of Biological Sciences | Hancock Auditorium and Museum (AHF) 107G
University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371
(213) 740-5774 Tel. | (213) 740-8123 Fax | E-mail: glensmit@usc.edu