Mechanism and biological function of mammalian DNA Poly-ADP-ribosylation (20*)

• Subject Area: Cell Biology
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 393547839

Poly-ADP-ribosylation (PARylation) is regarded as a widespread protein-specific modification closely associated with the DNA damage response. In contrast, we show that also DNA of mammalian cells is physiologically PARylated. DNA PARylation is a reversible enzymatic process and occurs, in specific, on adenine residues within single stranded DNA. We plan to reveal where in the genome adenine PARylation happens, and intend to study the physiological role of DNA PARylation by PARP enzymes using mouse embryonic stem cells.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1361: Regulation of DNA Repair and Genome Stability
• Applicant Institution: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
• Project Head: Professor Christof Niehrs, Ph.D.