Robert Lawton Eoff
Professor
Also affiliated: Vanderbilt University (2006–2011); University of Arkansas Medical Center (2013–2016); Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (2008–2009); Vanderbilt University Medical Center (2006–2009)
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, College of Medicine
Research Areas
Biomedical Subjects
Links
Biography and Research Information
OverviewAI-generated summary
Robert Eoff's research centers on understanding DNA replication and damage tolerance pathways, with a focus on their implications for human health, particularly in the context of cancer and aging. His work integrates biochemical and biophysical analyses of enzymes with structural biology techniques, including X-ray crystallography and molecular modeling. He has contributed to structural biology by solving thirty-four crystal structures, which have been submitted to the Protein Data Bank, with seventeen of these as first author. His laboratory has solved five crystal structures since his arrival at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).
Eoff holds an active collaboration with the Northeastern Collaborative Access Team (NE-CAT) at the Advanced Photon Source (APS), granting access to specific beamlines for data collection. His research has been supported by federal grants totaling $3,395,000, including $2,295,000 from the NIH/National Institute of General Medical Sciences for the Center for Molecular Interactions in Cancer (CMIC) and $1,100,000 from the NSF for research on the replication of G-quadruplex DNA by translesion polymerases. He is recognized as a highly cited researcher with a publication record of 116 papers and over 2,745 citations, reflected in an h-index of 31.
Research Overview
The research I pursue is focused on DNA replication and seeks to provide fundamental insights into how these mechanisms are related to human health, especially cancer. I have expertise in a number of areas pertinent to the current application including: biochemical/biophysical analysis of enzymes, structural biology (X-ray crystallography and molecular modeling techniques), mass spectrometry and genomic instability in cancer. In addition to in silico modeling approaches, I have been involved in solving thirty-four crystal structures submitted to the Protein Data Bank. I am first author on seventeen of these PDB submissions, and my laboratory has solved five crystal structures since I joined the faculty at UAMS. I have an active collaboration (General users proposal, GUP-41183) with the Northeastern collaborative access team (NE-CAT) at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) that grants us access to the 24-ID-E and 24-ID-C beamlines for data collection. The research I pursue is focused on DNA damage tolerance pathways and seeks to provide fundamental insights into how these mechanisms function under basal conditions and how they go astray during tumorigenesis or as a function of age. I have received funding from the National Institutes of Health in the form of an R00 award (GM084460) and a R01 (CA183895). I have established a strong research program with two senior post-doctoral fellows and three Ph.D. students. In less than four years, my team has published nine full, peer-reviewed research articles on which I am corresponding author. Work from my group has recently culminated in a manuscript that reveals important and previously unrecognized properties related to Werner’s syndrome protein (WRN) modulation of polymerase activity during bypass of oxidative DNA damage. Experiments from my group illustrate that WRN has a strong impact on the DNA adduct bypass properties of human DNA polymerases (pols) eta and kappa, inducing more accurate synthesis across oxidative damage (published in The Journal of Biological Chemistry and Nucleic Acids Research). Another study from my laboratory that was conducted in collaboration with Prof. Peter Crooks (UAMS) identified novel small-molecule inhibitors of the replication stress response enzyme human DNA polymerase eta, with the resulting manuscript recently being published in ACS Chemical Biology. We continue to pursue projects related to translesion polymerase activity in cancer and are actively developing new TLS pol inhibitors as a way to sensitize tumors to genotoxic anti-cancer drugs (e.g. cisplatin, doxorubicin). My long-term goal is to contribute in a meaningful fashion to the scientific endeavors that seek to improve human health, our ability to treat disease & our fundamental understanding of living systems.
Metrics
- h-index: 31
- Publications: 118
- Citations: 2,750
Positions
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Professor 2010–presentUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, College of Medicine Institutional directory
Selected Publications
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Human REV1 interacts with DHX36 to promote replication and tolerance of G-quadruplex DNA (2026)
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Evaluation of the Activity of Monensin and Its Analogs for Modulation of Stem-like Cell Functionality in 2D and 3D Breast Cancer Models (2025)
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Monensin and Its Analogs Exhibit Activity Against Breast Cancer Stem-Like Cells in an Organoid Model (2025)
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Abstract 1488: DNA polymerase kappa slows replication fork speed by promoting fork reversal in glioblastoma (2025)
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Abstract 1333 DNA polymerase kappa (Pol k) promotes replication gap suppression by preventing PrimPol mediated repriming and safeguards genomic stability in Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) (2024)
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Conservation of the insert-2 motif confers Rev1 from different species with an ability to disrupt G-quadruplexes and stimulate translesion DNA synthesis (2023)
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Anti-glioblastoma activity of monensin and its analogs in an organoid model of cancer (2022)
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Monensin and its analogues show anti‐glioblastoma activity in an organoid model of cancer (2022)
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323 Generation of a functional precision medicine pipeline which combines comparative transcriptomics and tumor organoid modeling to identify bespoke treatment strategies for glioblastoma (2022)
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Site-Specific Synthesis of Oligonucleotides Containing 6-Oxo-M1dG, the Genomic Metabolite of M1dG, and Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Its In Vitro Bypass by Human Polymerase ι (2021)
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A Functional Precision Medicine Pipeline Combines Comparative Transcriptomics and Tumor Organoid Modeling to Identify Bespoke Treatment Strategies for Glioblastoma (2021)
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Biobanked Glioblastoma Patient-Derived Organoids as a Precision Medicine Model to Study Inhibition of Invasion (2021)
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Inositol serves as a natural inhibitor of mitochondrial fission by directly targeting AMPK (2021)
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Single and double modified salinomycin analogs target stem-like cells in 2D and 3D breast cancer models (2021)
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Deletion of putative xenobiotic response elements (XREs) in hpol κ alters the replication stress response and overall genomic instability in glioblastoma cells (2021)
Federal Grants 2 $3,395,000 total
Grants & Funding
As listed on this researcher's institutional profile. Federal awards with verified records are shown above.
- Advancing Breast Cancer Treatment through Suppression of Chemo-Resistance UAMS Executive Breast Committee Principal Investigator
- Functions and Mechanisms of Helicases and G-Quadruplex Nucleic Acids NIH Co-Investigator
- Coordinating Translesion DNA Synthesis Opposite Damaged DNA NIH Principal Investigator
- ABI R. Eoff COBRE FY26 Y2 State of Arkansas Principal Investigator
- Seeds of Science Pilot award UAMS Internal Research Awards Principal Investigator
- Translesion DNA polymerase kappa activity in gliomas NIH Principal Investigator
- Translesion Synthesis Opposite Carcinogen Bound DNA NIH Principal Investigator
- Mechanistic characterization of the cell cycle-dependent DNA repair pathway- Resubmission NIH/Nat. Cancer Institute Principal Investigator
- G-quadruplex DNA as a chemical signaling agent NIH Co-Investigator
Collaboration Network
Top Collaborators
- Inositol serves as a natural inhibitor of mitochondrial fission by directly targeting AMPK
- Human Rev1 polymerase disrupts G-quadruplex DNA
- Kinetic Analysis of Human PrimPol DNA Polymerase Activity Reveals a Generally Error-Prone Enzyme Capable of Accurately Bypassing 7,8-Dihydro-8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine
- Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 4,5-disubstituted 2H-1,2,3-triazoles as cis-constrained analogues of combretastatin A-4
- Evidence for the Kinetic Partitioning of Polymerase Activity on G-Quadruplex DNA
Showing 5 of 34 shared publications
- Evidence That G-quadruplex DNA Accumulates in the Cytoplasm and Participates in Stress Granule Assembly in Response to Oxidative Stress
- Human Rev1 polymerase disrupts G-quadruplex DNA
- Evidence for the Kinetic Partitioning of Polymerase Activity on G-Quadruplex DNA
- Human Translesion Polymerase κ Exhibits Enhanced Activity and Reduced Fidelity Two Nucleotides from G-Quadruplex DNA
- Kynurenine Signaling Increases DNA Polymerase Kappa Expression and Promotes Genomic Instability in Glioblastoma Cells
Showing 5 of 27 shared publications
- Evidence That G-quadruplex DNA Accumulates in the Cytoplasm and Participates in Stress Granule Assembly in Response to Oxidative Stress
- LC8/DYNLL1 is a 53BP1 effector and regulates checkpoint activation
- Kynurenine Signaling Increases DNA Polymerase Kappa Expression and Promotes Genomic Instability in Glioblastoma Cells
- A Small-Molecule Inhibitor of Human DNA Polymerase η Potentiates the Effects of Cisplatin in Tumor Cells
- A Functional Precision Medicine Pipeline Combines Comparative Transcriptomics and Tumor Organoid Modeling to Identify Bespoke Treatment Strategies for Glioblastoma
Showing 5 of 24 shared publications
- Human Rev1 polymerase disrupts G-quadruplex DNA
- Kinetic Analysis of Human PrimPol DNA Polymerase Activity Reveals a Generally Error-Prone Enzyme Capable of Accurately Bypassing 7,8-Dihydro-8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine
- Translesion DNA Synthesis in Cancer: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities
- Evidence for the Kinetic Partitioning of Polymerase Activity on G-Quadruplex DNA
- Human Translesion Polymerase κ Exhibits Enhanced Activity and Reduced Fidelity Two Nucleotides from G-Quadruplex DNA
Showing 5 of 21 shared publications
- Synthesis and anti-cancer screening of novel heterocyclic-(2H)-1,2,3-triazoles as potential anti-cancer agents
- Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 4,5-disubstituted 2H-1,2,3-triazoles as cis-constrained analogues of combretastatin A-4
- Synthesis and evaluation of a series of resveratrol analogues as potent anti-cancer agents that target tubulin
- 1-Benzyl-2-methyl-3-indolylmethylene barbituric acid derivatives: Anti-cancer agents that target nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1)
- A Small-Molecule Inhibitor of Human DNA Polymerase η Potentiates the Effects of Cisplatin in Tumor Cells
Showing 5 of 15 shared publications
- Synthesis and anti-cancer screening of novel heterocyclic-(2H)-1,2,3-triazoles as potential anti-cancer agents
- Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 4,5-disubstituted 2H-1,2,3-triazoles as cis-constrained analogues of combretastatin A-4
- Synthesis and evaluation of a series of resveratrol analogues as potent anti-cancer agents that target tubulin
- 1-Benzyl-2-methyl-3-indolylmethylene barbituric acid derivatives: Anti-cancer agents that target nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1)
- A Small-Molecule Inhibitor of Human DNA Polymerase η Potentiates the Effects of Cisplatin in Tumor Cells
Showing 5 of 11 shared publications
- Human Rev1 polymerase disrupts G-quadruplex DNA
- Evidence for the Kinetic Partitioning of Polymerase Activity on G-Quadruplex DNA
- Human Translesion Polymerase κ Exhibits Enhanced Activity and Reduced Fidelity Two Nucleotides from G-Quadruplex DNA
- A Small-Molecule Inhibitor of Human DNA Polymerase η Potentiates the Effects of Cisplatin in Tumor Cells
- N-Aroyl Indole Thiobarbituric Acids as Inhibitors of DNA Repair and Replication Stress Response Polymerases
Showing 5 of 10 shared publications
- Evidence That G-quadruplex DNA Accumulates in the Cytoplasm and Participates in Stress Granule Assembly in Response to Oxidative Stress
- Pre-steady-state DNA unwinding by bacteriophage T4 Dda helicase reveals a monomeric molecular motor
- DNA Unwinding by Escherichia coli DNA Helicase I (TraI) Provides Evidence for a Processive Monomeric Molecular Motor
- Intermediates revealed in the kinetic mechanism for DNA unwinding by a monomeric helicase
- Chemically Modified DNA Substrates Implicate the Importance of Electrostatic Interactions for DNA Unwinding by Dda Helicase
Showing 5 of 10 shared publications
- Evidence That G-quadruplex DNA Accumulates in the Cytoplasm and Participates in Stress Granule Assembly in Response to Oxidative Stress
- Anti-glioblastoma activity of monensin and its analogs in an organoid model of cancer
- Single and double modified salinomycin analogs target stem-like cells in 2D and 3D breast cancer models
- Evaluation of the Activity of Monensin and Its Analogs for Modulation of Stem-like Cell Functionality in 2D and 3D Breast Cancer Models
- Novel Salinomycin Analogs Show Improved Selectivity Towards Breast Cancer Stem Cells
Showing 5 of 8 shared publications
- Pre-steady-state DNA unwinding by bacteriophage T4 Dda helicase reveals a monomeric molecular motor
- Anti-glioblastoma activity of monensin and its analogs in an organoid model of cancer
- Inhibition of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase impairs DNA damage tolerance and repair in glioma cells
- Inhibition of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase impairs DNA damage tolerance and repair in glioma cells
- Evaluation of the Activity of Monensin and Its Analogs for Modulation of Stem-like Cell Functionality in 2D and 3D Breast Cancer Models
Showing 5 of 7 shared publications
- Anti-glioblastoma activity of monensin and its analogs in an organoid model of cancer
- Single and double modified salinomycin analogs target stem-like cells in 2D and 3D breast cancer models
- Evaluation of the Activity of Monensin and Its Analogs for Modulation of Stem-like Cell Functionality in 2D and 3D Breast Cancer Models
- Novel Salinomycin Analogs Show Improved Selectivity Towards Breast Cancer Stem Cells
- Abstract PS18-46: Inhibition of breast cancer stem cells in 2- and 3-dimensional culture by novel salinomycin analogs
Showing 5 of 7 shared publications
- Anti-glioblastoma activity of monensin and its analogs in an organoid model of cancer
- Single and double modified salinomycin analogs target stem-like cells in 2D and 3D breast cancer models
- Evaluation of the Activity of Monensin and Its Analogs for Modulation of Stem-like Cell Functionality in 2D and 3D Breast Cancer Models
- Novel Salinomycin Analogs Show Improved Selectivity Towards Breast Cancer Stem Cells
- Abstract PS18-46: Inhibition of breast cancer stem cells in 2- and 3-dimensional culture by novel salinomycin analogs
Showing 5 of 7 shared publications
- Anti-glioblastoma activity of monensin and its analogs in an organoid model of cancer
- Single and double modified salinomycin analogs target stem-like cells in 2D and 3D breast cancer models
- Evaluation of the Activity of Monensin and Its Analogs for Modulation of Stem-like Cell Functionality in 2D and 3D Breast Cancer Models
- Novel Salinomycin Analogs Show Improved Selectivity Towards Breast Cancer Stem Cells
- Abstract PS18-46: Inhibition of breast cancer stem cells in 2- and 3-dimensional culture by novel salinomycin analogs
Showing 5 of 7 shared publications
- Synthesis and anti-cancer screening of novel heterocyclic-(2H)-1,2,3-triazoles as potential anti-cancer agents
- Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 4,5-disubstituted 2H-1,2,3-triazoles as cis-constrained analogues of combretastatin A-4
- Synthesis and evaluation of a series of resveratrol analogues as potent anti-cancer agents that target tubulin
- Synthesis, anticancer activity and molecular docking studies on a series of heterocyclic trans-cyanocombretastatin analogues as antitubulin agents
- Dioxol and dihydrodioxin analogs of 2- and 3-phenylacetonitriles as potent anti-cancer agents with nanomolar activity against a variety of human cancer cells
Showing 5 of 6 shared publications
- Kynurenine Signaling Increases DNA Polymerase Kappa Expression and Promotes Genomic Instability in Glioblastoma Cells
- Inhibition of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase impairs DNA damage tolerance and repair in glioma cells
- Aberrant Kynurenine Signaling Modulates DNA Replication Stress Factors and Promotes Genomic Instability in Gliomas
- Dioxol and dihydrodioxin analogs of 2- and 3-phenylacetonitriles as potent anti-cancer agents with nanomolar activity against a variety of human cancer cells
- Inhibition of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase impairs DNA damage tolerance and repair in glioma cells
Showing 5 of 6 shared publications
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