Functions of RNA in double-strand break repair and DNA end protection (17)

• Subject Area: General Genetics and Functional Genome Biology
• Term: since 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 393547839

DNA double-strand breaks must be repaired accurately to prevent chromosome loss or oncogenic transloca-tions. When the ends of linear chromosomes, the telomeres, become critically short, they are treated in a similar manner to a double-strand break. Recently, it has been shown that RNA plays an important, but still undefined role, in double-strand break repair. In this project, we will combine in vitro biochemical approaches with in vivo telomere attrition models to gain mechanistic insights and identify novel components involved in RNA-mediated double-strand break repair and telomere maintenance. In the light of emerging RNA thera-pies, these studies may have important consequences for potential treatments of disease and aging.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1361: Regulation of DNA Repair and Genome Stability
• Applicant Institution: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
• Project Heads: Professor Peter Baumann, Ph.D.; Professor Brian Luke, Ph.D.