Irene Zegar

Irene Zegar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Pittsburg State University. Her research focuses on the structural and functional consequences of DNA damage caused by carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the role of specialized DNA polymerases in repair processes.

• Education: Ph.D. and B.S. from the University of Illinois-Chicago

Dr. Zegar's work investigates how PAH-DNA adducts induce mutations linked to cancer initiation. Using multidimensional NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations, she analyzes structural perturbations in DNA. A second research focus involves polX, a unique DNA polymerase lacking the finger domain, to study its role in excision repair.

Her recent publications highlight collaborations on PAH-induced DNA conformational changes and adduct effects on mismatched base pairs. Dr. Zegar received the 2003 Robert K. Ratzlaff Outstanding Faculty Award for instructional excellence.