Alfiya F. Safina

Oncogenic transformation proceeds through a transient state of cellular plasticity constrained by lineage-specific barriers.

This paper investigates why oncogenic mutations often fail to induce cancer by showing that normal cells undergo a transient, plastic state but are constrained by lineage-specific barriers preventing stable transformation.

Comparison of cell response to chromatin and DNA damage

The paper compares the cellular response to DNA damage and chromatin damage using bleomycin and curaxin, finding distinct p53-dependent and -independent effects.

FACT-mediated maintenance of chromatin integrity during transcription is essential for viability of mammalian stem cells

This study shows that FACT is essential for maintaining chromatin integrity during transcription in mammalian adult stem cells, and its loss leads to lethality due to stem cell failure.

Transcription of Repeats Activates INterferon (TRAIN) in response to chromatin destabilization induced with anti-cancer small molecule

The paper shows that chromatin destabilizing drugs like curaxin induce an interferon response (TRAIN) through repeat transcription, independent of p53 status, and may prevent cancer by eliminating epigenetically unstable cells.