The cellular response to transcription-blocking DNA lesions involves the stalling of elongating RNA Polymerase II (RNAPIIo) at the lesion as well as a global shutdown of transcription. The stalling... Show moreThe cellular response to transcription-blocking DNA lesions involves the stalling of elongating RNA Polymerase II (RNAPIIo) at the lesion as well as a global shutdown of transcription. The stalling of RNAPIIo at such lesions initiates the transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair pathway (TCR) to efficiently remove the damage and restore transcription. The TCR proteins, CSB, CSA, and UVSSA, are essential for the repair of transcription-blocking DNA lesions, but how the interplay between these proteins targets the core repair machinery, including the TFIIH complex, to lesion stalled RNAPIIo remains largely unknown.Here, we demonstrate a sequential and highly cooperative assembly of TCR proteins and unveil the mechanism for TFIIH recruitment to DNA damage-stalled RNAPIIo. Importantly, we identified the previously uncharacterized ELOF1 gene as a core TCR factor with an additional role in preventing DNA damage during DNA replication. Show less
During my PhD project, I studied the role of several chromatin remodelers in the DNA double strand break (DSB) response. We discovered that both CHD4 and SMARCA5 are required for ubiquitin... Show moreDuring my PhD project, I studied the role of several chromatin remodelers in the DNA double strand break (DSB) response. We discovered that both CHD4 and SMARCA5 are required for ubiquitin signaling through the E3 ubiquitin ligases RNF8 and RNF168, which is a central signaling event in the response to DSBs. Furthermore, we found that SMARCA5 actually interacts with RNF168. Both CHD4 and SMARCA5 act at the break site itself and modulate DSB repair. Additionally we found that the DSB repair protein Rad51 is essential for mouse development since Rad51C knock out mice were embryonic lethal. Show less
