Biology Department

Andrea A. Duina, Ph.D.

Duina, A

Andrea A. Duina, Ph.D.

Professor of Biology

duina@hendrix.edu Office: Donald W. Reynolds Center 422 Research Lab: Donald W. Reynolds Center 423 (501) 450-4536 (501) 450-4547

Academic Background

  • B.S., University of Illinois-Champaign, 1992
  • Ph.D., Northwestern University, 1998
  • Postdoc, Harvard Medical School, 1998-2004

Research Interests

  • We use the budding yeast  Saccharomyces cerevisiae  to gain insights into the process of eukaryotic gene transcription.  We are particularly interested in the functional and physical interactions that occur between the histone chaperone complex yFACT and chromatin during active transcription.  An overview of our specific research interests can be found in the article "The Many Complexities of DNA Packing and Gene Expression" published by Scientia , which can be accessed by clicking this link: New Link

Scientific Publications

  • My Google Scholar Page - Click:  New Link

  • *Denotes Hendrix Student

  • Beard, J.S., Francis, L.K.*; Forrest, R.C.*, Kalinowski, A.*, Parks, J.C.*, Griffin, W.H.*, Tackett, C.L., and A.A. Duina.  2024. Trapping of yFACT at 3’ ends of genes is not a universal characteristic of yeast versions of Bryant-Li-Bhoj syndrome histone H3 mutants.  microPublication Biology. 10.17912/micropub.biology.001384.  Article available at: New Link

  • Byrd, S.E.*, Hoyt, B.*, Ozersky, S.A., Crocker, A.W.*, Habenicht, D.*, Nester, M.R.*, Prowse, H.*, Turkal, C.E.*, Joseph, L.*, and A.A. Duina.  2024.  Assessing contributions of DNA sequences at the 3’ end of a yeast gene on yFACT, RNA Polymerase II, and nucleosome occupancy.  BMC Research Notes, 17, 219. DOI 10.1186/s13104-024-06872-y.   Article available at: New Link

  • Pablo-Kaiser, A., Tucker, M.G.*, Turner, G.A.*, Dilday, E.G.*, Olmstead, A.G.*, Tackett, C.L., and A.A. Duina.   2022 .  Dominant effects of the histone mutant H3-L61R on Spt16-gene interactions in budding yeast.   Epigenetics, 17:13, 2347-2355, DOI:  10.1080/15592294.2022.2121073 .  Article available at:   New Link
  • Campbell, J.B.*, Edwards, M.J.*, Ozersky, S.A and A.A. Duina.   2019 . Evidence that dissociation of Spt16 from transcribed genes is partially dependent on RNA Polymerase II termination. Transcription, 10, 195-206.  Article available at: New Link
  • Nyamugenda, E.*, Cox, B.C.*, Pierce, J.B.*, Banning, R.C.*, Huynh, M.L.*, May, C.*, Marshall, S., Turkal, C.E.* and A.A. Duina.  2018 . Charged residues on the side of the nucleosome contribute to normal Spt16-gene interactions in budding yeast.   Epigenetics 13, 1-7.  Article available at: New Link
  • Duina A.A. and C.E. Turkal*.   2017 . Targeted  in Situ  Mutagenesis of Histone Genes in Budding Yeast.  J. Vis. Exp. 119, e55263, doi:10.3791/55263.  (See Video Article in section below).  Article available at: New Link

  • Johnson, P.*, Mitchell V.*, McClure K.*, Kellems M.*, Marshall S., Allison M.K.*, Lindley H.*, Nguyen H.-T.T.*, Tackett J.E.*, and A.A. Duina.  2015 .  A systematic mutational analysis of a histone H3 residue in budding yeast provides insights into chromatin dynamics.  G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics 5, 741-749.  Article available at:  New Link

  • Duina A.A., Miller M.E. and J.B. Keeney.  2014 .  Budding yeast for budding geneticists: a Primer on the Saccharomyces cerevisiae model system.  Genetics 197, 33-48. This article was highlighted in "Genetics Spotlight: A showcase of research and scholarship in selected articles from 2014" published by the Genetics Society of America.  Article available at: New Link

  • Nguyen H.-T.T.*, Wharton W. II*, Harper J.A., Dornhoffer J.R.*, and A.A. Duina.  2013 .  A nucleosomal region important for ensuring proper interactions between the transcription elongation factor Spt16 and transcribed genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.  G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics 3, 929-940.  Article available at: New Link
  • A.A. Duina.  2013 .  New roles for old characters:  an Educational Primer for use with "Vps factors are required for efficient transcription elongation in budding yeast".  Genetics 194, 27-33.  Article available at: New Link

  • A.A. Duina.  2011 .  Histone Chaperones Spt6 and FACT:  similarities and differences in modes of action at transcribed genes.  Genet. Res. Int ., Article ID 625210.  This article is part of a Special Issue: Gene Control During Transcription Elongation.  Article available at: New Link

  • Myers C.N.*, Berner G.B., Holthoff J.H.*, Martinez-Fonts K.*, Harper J.A., Alford S.*, Taylor M.N., and A.A. Duina. 2011 . Mutant Versions of the S. cerevisiae transcription elongation factor Spt16 define regions of Spt16 that functionally interact with histone H3. PLoS ONE 6, e20847.  Article available at: New Link
  • Lloyd, A.*, Pratt, K.*, Siebrasse, E.*, Moran, M.D., and A.A. Duina. 2009 . Uncoupling of the patterns of chromatin association of different transcription elongation factors by a histone H3 mutant in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . Eukaryot. Cell 8, 257-260.  Article available at: New Link
  • Duina, A.A., Rufiange, A., Bracey, J.*, Hall, J.*, Nourani A., and F. Winston. 2007 . Evidence that the localization of the elongation factor Spt16 across transcribed genes is dependent upon histone H3 integrity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . Genetics  177, 101-112.  Article available at: New Link
  • Duina, A.A. and F. Winston. 2004 . Analysis of a mutant histone H3 that perturbs the association of Swi/Snf with chromatin. Mol. Cell. Biol.  24, 561-572.  Article available at: New Link
  • Duina, A.A., H.M. Kalton, and R.F. Gaber. 1998 . Requirement for Hsp90 and a CyP-40-type cyclophilin in negative regulation of the heat shock response. J. Biol. Chem.  273,18974-18978.  Article available at: New Link
  • Duina, A.A., J.A. Marsh, R.B. Kurtz, J.H.-C. Chang, S. Lindquist, and R.F. Gaber. 1998 . The peptidyl-prolyl isomerase domain of the CyP-40 cyclophilin homolog Cpr7 is not required to support growth or glucocorticoid receptor activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . J. Biol. Chem.  273, 10819-10822.  Article available at: New Link
  • Duina, A.A., J.H.-C. Chang, J.A. Marsh, S. Lindquist, and R.F. Gaber. 1996 . A cyclophilin function in Hsp90-dependent signal transduction. Science  274, 1713-1715.  Article available at: New Link
  • Duina, A.A., J.A. Marsh, and R.F. Gaber. 1996 . Identification of two CyP-40-like cyclophilins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae , one of which is required for normal growth. Yeast  12, 943-952.  Article available at: New Link

Video Article

  • Below is the video associated with the article: A.A Duina and C.E. Turkal.   2017.  Targeted   in Situ   Mutagenesis of Histone Genes in Budding Yeast.   J. Vis. Exp.  119, e55263, doi:10.3791/55263.
  •  

Other Publications

  • Duina, A.A. 2007. Listen to your calling.  ASBMB Today   (February 2007), 19-20. Article available at:  New Link  

Current Funding Support

  • National Science Foundation (2020-2025):  "RUI: Investigations on yFACT-genome interactions and other chromatin processes"

Current Members of the Lab (2025-2026)

  • See how efficient Duina Lab members are!!  Click New Link  and New Link  !

     

  • Amna Abuabdou (Undergraduate Student)

     

     

  • Andrea Duina (Principal Investigator)    

    Summer 2023 AAD-2

     

  • Landon Hardister (Undergraduate Student)

     

Past Lab Members

  • Undergraduate Students  

    • David Addepalli
    • Sarah Alford
    • Katy Allison
    • Ryan Banning
    • Joey Beard
    • Jeffrey Biles
    • John Bracey
    • Sam Byrd
    • Jessica Campbell
    • Brandon Cox
    • Alex Crocker
    • Elijah Dilday 
    • Jimmy Dornhoffer
    • Michaela Edwards
    • Reece Forrest
    • Lilly Francis
    • Brianna Franco
    • Madeline Fulmer
    • Chengsi Gao
    • Will Griffin
    • Daniel Habenicht
    • Jeffrey Hall
    • Jasmine Haller
    • Graham Harris
    • Kelsie Holmes
    • Hunter Holthoff
    • Brianna Hoyt
    • Michelle Huynh
    • Any Jivan
    • Lauren Joseph
    • Paige Johnson
    • Rose Johnson
    • Agustin Kalinowski
    • Josh Kee
    • Martha Kellems
    • Alex Khalaf
    • Harrison Lindley
    • Amanda Lloyd
    • Lindsay Loftis
    • Kirby Martinez-Fonts
    • Catey May
    • Kelsi McClure
    • Taylor McElroy
    • Hina Metha
    • Ira Miller
    • Ginny Mitchell
    • Meet Modi
    • Faris Musallam
    • Catherine Myers
    • John Neis
    • Mattie Nester
    • Trang Nguyen
    • Eugene Nymugenda
    • Avery Olmstead
    • Malena Outhay
    • Sydney Ozersky
    • Jackson Parks
    • John Pennington
    • Jacob Pierce
    • Katie Pratt
    • Heather Prowse
    • Jun Shin
    • Chaela Sickbert
    • Erica Siebrasse
    • Oliver Steven-Assheuer
    • Jessica Sweatt
    • Jessalyn Tackett
    • McKenzie Tucker
    • Claire Turkal
    • Grace Turner
    • Hayley Warsinske
    • Lewis Wharton
    • Savannah Wiegel
    • Shelby Worsham

    Laboratory Technicians

    • Joey Beard
    • Gary Berner
    • Jennifer Harper
    • Sarah Marshall
    • Sydney Ozersky
    • Alex Pablo-Kaiser
    • Landon Reeves
    • Kacey Sommers
    • Caroline Tackett
    • Megan Taylor

Recent Scientific Conferences: Organizer or Platform Session Chair

  • Organizer: NSF Conference: Broadening Access to Research Opportunities in South Central EPSCoR States, Hendrix College, Conway, AR. November 3-4, 2023.

  • Platform Session co-Chair:  23rd Annual Southeastern Regional Yeast Meeting.  University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL.  March 25-27, 2016.

  • Co-organizer :  22nd Annual Southeastern Regional Yeast Meeting. Heifer International Headquarters, Little Rock, AR.  March 13-15, 2015.

  • Platform Session Chair: 18th Annual Southeastern Regional Yeast Meeting.  Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS.  March 11-13, 2011.

  • Co-organizer:  17th Annual Southeastern Regional Yeast Meeting.  William J. Clinton Presidential Center, Little Rock, AR.  March 12-14, 2010.

Invited Seminars

  • University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences – Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, April 19, 2024.  Insights into yFACT-gene interactions and the mechanisms underlying a human developmental disorder through analyses of histone mutants in yeast.

  • Emory University (GA) - Department of Biology, February 9, 2023.   Insights into FACT-gene interactions in budding yeast.
  • Keynote Speaker:   Central Arkansas Undergraduate Research Symposium  (8th Annual Meeting) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, July 24, 2019.  The joys and challenges of research at an undergraduate college.  
  • Emory University (GA) - Department of Biology, May 2, 2019.   Breaking chromatin to understand it: a genetic approach in yeast provides new insights into the transcription process.
  • University of Central Arkansas - Biology Department.  April 20, 2018.  Investigations on the mechanisms governing Spt16-gene interactions in budding yeast.
  • University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences - Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.  December 7, 2016.  Investigations on the mechanisms governing Spt16-gene interactions in budding yeast.

  • Central Baptist College (AR) - Department of Math and Science. April 25, 2014.  Breaking chromatin to understand it: a genetic approach provides new insights into the transcription elongation process.

  • Rhodes College (TN) - Department of Biology. October 23, 2013.  Breaking chromatin to understand it: a genetic approach provides new insights into the transcription elongation process.
  • Arkansas INBRE Research Conference - Invited Speaker. October 18, 2013.  Identification of a Nucleosomal Region Important for Ensuring Proper Interactions between the Transcription Elongation Factor Spt 16 and Transcribed Genes in Budding Yeast.
  • Emory University School of Medicine (GA) - Department of Biochemistry, February 23, 2012.  Analysis of yeast cells expressing specific histone mutants provide new insights into the process of transcription elongation.
  • Louisiana State University Health Science Center, School of Medicine in Shreveport - Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, January 20, 2011. Insights into the process of transcription elongation through the analysis of histone mutants in yeast.
  • University of Arkansas at Little Rock - Department of Applied Sciences, November 15, 2010.  Insights into the process of transcription elongation through the analysis of histone mutants in yeast.
  • University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences - Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, September 15, 2010. New insights into the process of transcription elongation in yeast.
  • University of Iowa - Department of Biochemistry, December 11, 2008.  Insights into the mechanism of yFACT association across transcribed genes in vivo.
  • University of Central Arkansas - Department of Biology, February 18, 2008.  A role for histone H3 in ensuring proper distribution of the elongation complex yFACT across transcribed genes.
  • University of Arkansas at Fayetteville - Department of Biology, November 8, 2007. A role for histone H3 in ensuring proper distribution of the elongation complex yFACT across transcribed genes.
  • Rhodes College (TN) - Department of Biology, November 13, 2006. A dysfunctional relationship: when a transcription factor just can't let go.
  • University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences - Department of Physiology, September, 2005. Evidence that the localization of the elongation factor Spt16 across transcribed genes is dependent upon histone H3 integrity in yeast. 

Hendrix College Professor Andrea Duina Named Associate Editor for GENETICS Journal

August 6, 2025 – Dr. Andrea Duina, professor of biology at Hendrix College, has been appointed Associate Editor for the GENETICS journal, a leading publication of the Genetics Society of America. 

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New Duina Publication Shares Extension of Previous NSF-Funded Work with Yeast

Research appearing in microPublication Biology builds on 2022 paper in Epigenetics

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NSF-funded Research by Hendrix Professor Duina and Students Culminates in Publication

Study in yeast investigates roles of DNA sequences in fundamental cellular processes

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Hendrix Biology Research Team Publishes Potential Insight Related to Developmental Disorder

NSF-funded research gives students opportunities to learn while advancing scientific knowledge

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Two Hendrix College Seniors Recognized for Research Contributions

McKenzie Tucker and Grace Turner ’22 among the presenters honored at the 2022 Southeastern Regional Yeast Meeting

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