Tanya A. Bashtannyk-Puhalovich
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Total Citations
83
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About
Tanya A. Bashtannyk-Puhalovich is a structural biologist whose research centers on the molecular mechanisms of tumor suppression and protein conformational dynamics. Her most impactful work includes the high-resolution crystal structure of the human tumor suppressor Maspin, a serpin critical for development—homozygous loss of the gene is lethal—yet whose precise physiological role remained elusive. This landmark 2005 study, cited 83 times, revealed a novel conformational switch in the G-helix, offering transformative insight into how Maspin regulates cell behavior in cancers of the breast and lung. By elucidating this structural toggle, Bashtannyk-Puhalovich provided a framework for understanding Maspin’s dual functions in protease inhibition and non-inhibitory signaling, directly informing therapeutic strategies. Her work exemplifies how atomic-level protein architecture can decode complex biological pathways, bridging fundamental structural biology with translational cancer research. For students and researchers, her contributions underscore the power of crystallography in revealing hidden regulatory mechanisms within disease-relevant proteins.
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