Sally G Pasion

Pasion

Sally G Pasion

( She/Her/Hers )

Associate Professor
BiologyCollege of Science and Engineering

Email:
pasion@sfsu.edu
Phone Number:
415) 405-0736
Location:
HH 668C

At SF State Since:

2001

Office Hours:

Bio:

Sally Pasion joined the faculty at San Francisco State in 2001, and is currently an Associate Professor of Biology, and teaches general education Biology courses to nonmajors, genetics and molecular biology to majors, and cell & molecular techniques to graduate students.  Her research interests include DNA replication and telomere maintenance in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the fission yeast, which is an excellent system for training undergraduate and graduates students in basic cell biology, molecular biology, and microbiology.  Her research has been funded by a National Institutes of Health-National Cancer Institute UCSF/SFSU Collaborative-Cancer Research and Research Training Grant and a National Institutes of Health MBRS-SCORE Grant.  

She completed a B.A. in Chemistry at Harvard University, and then worked as a research assistant in the Laboratory of Pharmacology at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, studying gene amplification in pituitary tumor cells. She received a Ph.D. in Biology from UCLA in 1995, studying a mitochondrial topoisomerase and the cell cycle regulation of DNA replication in the trypanosome Crithidia fasciculata.  She studied DNA replication in the fission yeast, at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies for her postdoctoral studies until 2000.  

Personal Pronouns: she/her/hers

CV:

 PasionCV-2023-09.pdf

Pasion Lab Research

The regulation of the replication of the genome is critical in the basic process of cell division. The genetic material must be duplicated correctly, completely, and at the appropriate time during the cell division cycle. Regulation of this process is essential to maintain genomic integrity and to prevent aneuploidy or genetic instability, which are hallmarks of cancer. Of further importance is understanding how the cell responds to replication stress induced by the encounter of the replication complex with a modified nucleotide or other form of aberrant DNA structure (DNA damage) or with a transcription complex.

We use the single-celled organism Schizosaccharomyces pombe, or fission yeast, as a model for the study of eukaryotic DNA replication. Fission yeast is an excellent model system to address questions relevant to S phase regulation because of the similarity of its cell cycle regulation to that of other eukaryotes, the tractability of its genetics and cell biology, the availability of molecular biology tools for manipulation, and the sequencing of its genome.

The focus of my laboratory centers on the analysis of cdc24+, an essential fission yeast gene that is required for genomic integrity and likely has a role in late S phase. cdc24+ encodes a novel protein with no obvious homologs in the genome databases, though the homolog exists in the related fission yeasts (S. octosporus, S. japonicus, and S. cryophilus). The fission yeast mutant, cdc24-M38, was originally identified in the cell division cycle (cdc) mutant screen thirty years ago by Kim Nasmyth and Paul Nurse as a mutant defective in the DNA synthesis phase, or S phase, of the cell cycle (Nasmyth and Nurse, 1981). Loss of cdc24 function results in [1] the arrest of the mutant cells with a single nucleus and an apparently replicated genome, and [2] chromosome breakage, which is uncharacteristic of S phase mutants (Gould et al., 1998).

Overall, our approach to defining the role of Cdc24p in genome maintenance utilizes genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, and biochemistry approaches. Preliminary work has indicated that this cdc24 mutant has genetic interactions with a group of proteins involved not only with DNA replication but also with DNA repair. We have identified several suppressors of the cdc24 temperature sensitive growth phenotype, including the fission yeast gene, dna2+, a DNA helicase/endonuclease (Kang et al., 2000). These interactions taken together with the mutant cdc24 phenotype present the exciting possibility that this gene may have a functional significance in the development of diseases of genome stability. cdc24+ is a critical gene to characterize further because it encodes a novel protein that is essential for viability and clearly interacts genetically with conserved genes required for S phase progression.

Kang, Ho-Young, Eunjoo Choi, Sung-Ho Bae, Kyoung-Hwa Lee, Byung-Soo Gim, Hee-Dai Kim, Chankyu Park, Stuart A. MacNeill, and Yeon-Soo Seo. “Genetic Analyses of Schizosaccharomyces pombe dna2+ Reveal That Dna2 Plays an Essential Role in Okazaki Fragment Metabolism.” Genetics 155, no. 3 (July 1, 2000): 1055-1067. https://www.genetics.org/content/155/3/1055

Nasmyth, Kim, and Paul Nurse. “Cell Division Cycle Mutants Altered in DNA Replication and Mitosis in the Fission Yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.” Molecular and General Genetics MGG 182, no. 1 (May 1, 1981): 119–24. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00422777

Gould, Kathleen L., C. Geoffrey Burns, Anna Feoktistova, Ching-Pei Hu, Sally G. Pasion, and Susan L. Forsburg. “Fission Yeast cdc24+ Encodes a Novel Replication Factor Required for Chromosome Integrity.” Genetics 149, no. 3 (July 1, 1998): 1221-1233. https://www.genetics.org/content/149/3/1221.long

Tanaka, Hiroyuki, Koichi Tanaka, Hiroshi Murakami, and Hiroto Okayama. “Fission Yeast Cdc24 Is a Replication Factor C- and Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen-Interacting Factor Essential for S-Phase Completion.” Molecular and Cellular Biology 19, no. 2 (February 1, 1999): 1038. https://doi.org/10.1128/MCB.19.2.1038.

Complete bibiliography available here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1T5QE0LNedh5h/bibliography/public/

Additional links:

Pasion Lab Members 

Policy on letters of recommendation

Teaching

Fall 2024

Biol 355-03 Genetics - [Mon and Wed, 11am - 12:15pm, HH 543] - Teaching Mode: In-person

The prerequisite courses for Biol 355 are completion of Biol 230 & 240 (1st year majors introductory biology) and Chem 115 (General Chemistry I), each with a grade of C- or better. The prerequisites ARE STRICTLY enforced. (Note that the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department requires a C or better in all prerequisite courses, if you are planning to take Chem 215 General Chemistry II, Chem 130 General Organic Chemistry, Chem 233 Organic Chem I, or any other course that requires Chem 115). Note that if you have not completed the prerequisite courses - you will not be allowed to be enrolled in Biol 355. Successful online registration in Biol 355 is not a guarantee of enrollment--successful completion of the prerequisites will be confirmed.

Note: If you have completed the three prerequisite courses, each with a C- or better, but are still blocked from online registration, please communicate with the instructor by e-mail to request a permission number. You may be required to provide unofficial transcripts or course syllabi to support your request.

REQUIRED: There is no required textbook for the course; however, we will be using the free PollEverywhere(PollEv). Students will need to use their mobile device, laptop, or tablet to access a URL/QR code to participate with PollEv during class.

All students who wish to enroll in Biol 355-03 (whether they are currently registered or wish to add the class) must attend the first day of class (MONDAY, August 26, 2024).

 

Biol 743-01 Cell and Molecular Techniques - [Tue and Thu, 11am - 12:15pm, HH 108] - Teaching Mode: In-person

The course involves lecture and discussion of modern techniques and design of strategies used in cell and molecular biology research. Includes discussion of societal issues. The prerequisites for this GRADUATE course are graduate status, completion of Biol 357, Chem 340, and Chem 341 (or their equivalent) with a grade of C- or better, and consent of instructor. The prerequisites will be enforced. Biology graduate students will have priority for enrollment. Note that concurrent enrollment in Biol 357 may be allowed with instructor approval. Undergraduates will be allowed to enroll/remain enrolled in the course only after all graduate students have enrolled in the course. Successful registration (touch-tone) in Biol 743 is not a guarantee of enrollment--successful completion of the prerequisites must be confirmed.

 

There is no required textbook for the course.

All students who wish to enroll in Biol 743-01 (whether they are currently registered or wish to add the class) must attend the first day of class (TUESDAY, August 27, 2024).

Pasion Lab Members

 

 

Fall 2024

PI: Sally Pasion

Graduate Students

Alyn Castellanos

Amy Tran

Undergraduate Students

Layla Chirar

Logan Holbrook

Previous Lab Members:

Vanessa Aguilera  (B.S. SF State, M.S. SF State, MBA Babson Graduate School, Semler Scientific)

Masae Ahmann (SF State graduate student)

Mattelin Bautista (Bridges Summer Student)

Dennis Bua (M.S. SF State, Ph.D. and postdoc Stanford, Bio-protocol, Stanford University School of Medicine)

Berenice Cabrera (B.S. and MS, SF State; currently Biology Instructor at Foothill College)

Janis Cabuhat (B.S. SF State, currently at Genentech)

Joni Castro (SF State graduate student)

Jessica Chan (B.S. SF State; currently graduate student at USF, Research Associate PrognomiQ Inc.)

Shani Chapman (M.S. SF State)

Johnny Chavez (M.S. SF State)

Laura Cochrane (Research Technician, SF State graduate student)

Sheire Coleman (B.S. SF State, Educator)

Noel Cruz-Pacheco (M.S. SF State, currently Research Associate at UCSF)

Amy Dhirapong (graduate student, Ph.D. UC Davis, Genentech Senior QC Associate)

Letizia Diamante (Visiting International Scholar; MS, Univ. of Pavia; Ph.D. University of Cambridge, Science communicator and children's book writer )

Gemma Estrada Girona (M.S. SF State, Research scientist EMBL, Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, MeiraGTx Senior Research Scientist)

Gabriela Flores - (B.S. SF State, DPT MGH Institute of Health Professions)

Janell Garcia (B.S. SF State)

Gabriel Getchell - (B.S. SF State, Astellas Gene Therapies)

Brenna Gibson Tirumalashetty (B.S. and M.S. SF State, Climate Corporation Software Engineer)

Kadra Gulaid (B.S. SF State, MPH UC Berkeley)

Marwa Hararah (B.S. SF State)

Mela Hardin (M.A. in Mathematics, SF State, currently Ph.D. student at Arizona State)

Ngoc Hoang (B.S. and M.S. SF State; Research Associate at UCSF)

Sally Hutchinson (B.S. SF State)

Ugochi Ikeme (B.S. SF State, California Department of Fish and Wildlife)

Himanshi Jaswal (B.S. SF State, currently Medical School student)

Ryan Kendle (graduate student, M.D.-Ph.D. Drexel University, UCLA, oncologist)

Viivi Koivu (Visiting student, BS and MS, University of Turku, Blueprint Genetics )

Lorl Lee (Project SEED intern)

Philbert Lee (high school student intern, B.S. UCSC, M.S. SF State, Ph.D. University of Chicago, Molecular Biosciences)

Jiayu Luo (M.S. SF State, currently employed at Gene Editing company in Hong Kong)

Lisa Liang (Project SEED intern, B.S. Environmental Toxicology, UC Davis)

Alice Liu (high school student intern)

Anthony Xavier Lopez (B.S. SF State, M.S. SF State, currently Biology Professor at Mt San Antonio College)

Eduardo Lujan (B.S. SF State, M.S. SF State, currently Ph.D. student at UC Berkeley)

Nghiep Ly (B.S. SF State, M.S. SF State, Complete Genomics, BGI of America)

Elizabeth Mazza (B.S. SF State)

Jennifer Menjivar (B.S. SF State, MD David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Resident at UCSF )

Mehnaz Malek (graduate student, currently at Bristol Myers Squibb)

Garima Mital (M.S. SF State, currently at Genentech)

Ariff Moolla (B.A. in Mathematics, B.S. in Cell & Molecular Biology SF State,  DO Touro University, pediatrician)

Bichloan Nguyen (B.S. and M.S. SF State)

Jose Valentin Ordonez (B.S. SF State)

 

 

Erica Pederson  (Research Technician, Research Associate at UC Berkeley)

J. Michelle Pierce (Bridges Summer student, B.S. Arizona State, SF Department of the Environment, Bay View Hunter's Point Community Advocates)

Justine Jenny Ramos (B.S. SF State, currently Ph.D. Student, UC Berkeley)

Terry Reyes (B.S. SF State, Ph.D. Stanford University, Genencor, Impossible Foods Inc. Regulatory Affairs)

Nainoa Richardson (B.S. and M.S. SF State, Ph.D. University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis (UNS) Institute of Biology Valrose (iBV), postdoc at UCSF)

Leonel Santibañez Vargas (Bridges Summer student, B.S. UC Riverside, Antibody Solutions)

Kanika Sethi (B.S. SF State, podiatry student at Samuel Merritt University)

Iqbal Thabet (SF State graduate student)

Marakee Tilahun (B.S. SF State)

Herlinda Tin (Bridges Summer student, B.A. in Psychology, UC Riverside; M.A. Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology)

Anna Marie Tuazon (M.S. SF State, Ph.D. UC Davis; Gilead Sciences)

Cherryl Valenzuela (Bridges Summer student)

Ntsaum Steve Vang (M.S. SF State, Medical School Student)

Laura Wazna-Blank (B.S. SF State)

Ivan Zamora (SF State graduate student, Impossible Foods Inc.)

 

updated 8/23/2024

Policy on Letters of Recommendation

Policy on Letters of Recommendation
This information is for students requesting a letter of recommendation from Dr. Pasion in the Department of Biology, SFSU.  This information does not reflect the official requirements for SFSU faculty.

It is essential that you allow sufficient time for preparing the letter, so you must contact me a minimum of ONE MONTH BEFORE the letter deadline.

•links about requesting letters of recommendation
•links for letter writers

If you are interested in obtaining a letter of recommendation, you must approach me with the following information:
1.    Complete name of school (or scholarship program) to which you are applying
2.    Complete mailing address for letter of recommendation (Most letters are submitted online, but for those letters that will be sent by regular US postal service, an addressed envelope with sufficient postage would be appreciated--see format for addressing the envelope here. Please do not put the stamp on the envelope, in case a new envelope is required)
3.    Form(s) to be sent with letter.  In some cases, the school/scholarship program has a form or template for submitting the letter of recommendation.  Many programs have online letter submission - please provide me with a list of all programs you are applying to with the application deadline.
4.    Signed form waiving your access to letter of recommendation.  The University provides this form

https://registrar.sfsu.edu/sites/default/files/documents/Letter%20of%20Recommendation%20Release%20Form.pdf

If you do not waive your right to access, the letter of recommendation is considered not confidential and may be discounted by evaluators at the recipient institution.  For online submissions, please provide me with a signed statement listing all schools that you WAIVE your right to access the letter. I will not write a letter of recommendation if you do not waive access to your letter.
5.    A copy of your unofficial SFSU transcript.
6.    A copy of your personal statement to be submitted to the school (or scholarship program).  I am looking for an explanation of your career goals or type of job or graduate school you hope to enter if this is not included in your  personal statement.
7.    Your contact information (address, day and night telephone numbers indicating acceptable contact hours, your e-mail address--in case I need additional information).  If you were a student in my class, please indicate the specific details (class, semester, and grade received)
8.    If you are using a campus letter writing service, provide all relevant information and forms.
9.    Specific deadlines for receipt of the letter (or when you will be picking up the letter if you need to send the letter with your application packet).
10.  You must meet with me to discuss aspects of your academic performance or other characteristics that will help strengthen your letter of recommendation.  Be aware that a letter for entry into a medical school or a graduate program will emphasize different aspects of your academic performance compared to a letter for a scholarship program.
REMEMBER that you should REMIND me (by e-mail, is fine) about the letter approximately one week before the deadline.

  • You should have all the information available in an electronic format (send by e-mail).
  • Even if I have written a letter for you before, it is a good idea to provide all of this information again (so that we do not lose time looking for the previous information)

Information for students who are requesting a letter of recommendation

Career Center-UC Berkeley Graduate School Letters of Recommendation
All about letters of recommendation
How to ask a Professor for a letter of recommendation

Recommendation letter etiquette

Information for people writing letters of recommendation
Ten tips for recommenders
Writing a letter of recommendation letter (HHMI)

Tips for writing strong letters of recommendation

Most letters of recommendation are submitted ONLINE. No stamp/envelopes required if the letters are submitted ONLINE. If the letter of recommendation is to be mailed  -- Format for addressed envelope (no stamp...Leave the return address blank):