The role of homologous recombination proteins in vertebrate DNA replication
Coordination between DNA replication and DNA repair ensures maintenance of genome integrity, which is lost in cancer cells. Lesions and discontinuities in the DNA template undergoing replication induce replication fork stalling. Homologous recombination (HR) proteins RAD51 and BRCA1/2 play a major role in the stability of replication forks. This function appears to be distinct from the classical one performed by these proteins in HR dependent DNA Double Strand Break repair. Using Xenopus laevis egg extract we discovered that RAD51 prevents MRE11 mediated degradation of nascent DNA at stalled forks in eukaryotic cells. This finding has been widely confirmed in different model systems. The use of electron microscopy mediated analysis of replication intermediates is allowing the dissection of several mechanistic aspects of HR proteins function in replication fork protection. I will address the crosstalk between BRCA1/2, RAD51 and the MRE11 complex in light of our more recent findings.
Date: 26 January 2017, 14:00 (Thursday, 2nd week, Hilary 2017)
Venue: MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Headington OX3 9DS
Venue Details: Seminar Room
Speaker: Dr Vincenzo Costanzo (DNA metabolism laboratory, IFOM, Milan)
Organising department: Department of Oncology
Organiser: Penny Berry (University of Oxford, Department of Oncology, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine)
Organiser contact email address: penny.berry@oncology.ox.ac.uk
Host: Dr Wojciech Niedzwiedz (WIMM)
Part of: WIMM Occasional Seminars
Booking required?: Not required
Audience: Members of the University only
Editors: Penny Berry, Liz Rose