Welcoming Mark Sutton to His New Role as Interim Chair of Biochemistry

Dear Jacobs School community,

We are pleased to announce that Mark Sutton, PhD, professor of biochemistry in the Jacobs School, will be assuming the role of interim chair of the Department of Biochemistry, effective Jan. 1.

Dr. Sutton has been with the Jacobs School for over two decades. His research focuses on understanding how organisms coordinate their DNA replication machinery with other cellular factors involved in DNA repair and damage tolerance, which is crucial for preventing mutations, genome instability, and cell death.

His lab uses biochemical, biophysical, and genetic approaches to study DNA replication, repair, and error-prone damage tolerance in Escherichia coli. Currently, he is working on coordinating high fidelity and error-prone lesion bypass DNA polymerases with other DNA metabolism proteins to control DNA repair fidelity for therapeutic gain.

Additionally, Dr. Sutton investigates how DNA repair and mutagenesis contribute to antimicrobial resistance and adaptive mutations that complicate therapy and help P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and A. baumannii persist during infection. In collaboration with Brian T. Tsuji, PharmD, UB professor of pharmacy practice, and Anthony Berdis, PhD, professor of chemistry at Cleveland State University, he seeks to develop novel therapeutics that target mutational processes and synergize with traditional antimicrobials to kill multi-drug and pan-drug resistant bacterial pathogens.

He has published evidence that Hda acts to regulate the TLS activity of Pol II and Pol IV in vivo. His commitment to education and research excellence has made a significant impact on the academic community.

Dr. Sutton received his PhD in biochemistry from Michigan State University and his BS in biochemistry from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Thank you to Mark R. O’Brian, PhD, for his dedicated service as chair of the biochemistry department. Dr. O’Brian, who is stepping down from this role, has been a vital part of our UB faculty for over three decades. We are grateful that he will continue to contribute as a faculty member in the department.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Sutton to his new role.

Best wishes,

Allison Brashear, MD, MBA

Vice President for Health Sciences and
Dean, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
University at Buffalo
President and CEO, UBMD Physicians’ Group