Nucleolar Responses to DNA Damage rDNA an emerging hub of genome instability
DNA lesions can impose serious threats to genome integrity and cell viability. Whereas DNA damage may occur anywhere in the genome, it is increasingly recognized that certain genomic loci rich in repetitive sequences display incre...
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31/05/2025
UNIVERSITY OF PATR...
1M€
Presupuesto del proyecto: 1M€
Líder del proyecto
PANEPISTIMIO PATRON
No se ha especificado una descripción o un objeto social para esta compañía.
TRL
4-5
Fecha límite participación
Sin fecha límite de participación.
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Información proyecto NUCDDR
Duración del proyecto: 65 meses
Fecha Inicio: 2019-12-10
Fecha Fin: 2025-05-31
Líder del proyecto
PANEPISTIMIO PATRON
No se ha especificado una descripción o un objeto social para esta compañía.
TRL
4-5
Presupuesto del proyecto
1M€
Fecha límite de participación
Sin fecha límite de participación.
Descripción del proyecto
DNA lesions can impose serious threats to genome integrity and cell viability. Whereas DNA damage may occur anywhere in the genome, it is increasingly recognized that certain genomic loci rich in repetitive sequences display increased susceptibility to damage and are linked to chromosomal rearrangements and malignancy. Clusters of ribosomal DNA gene (rDNA) repeats, present on five different chromosomes, constitute the most heavily transcribed area of the human genome and are organized in a nuclear membrane-less organelle, the nucleolus. So far, putative links between rDNA damage and malignant processes have not been rigorously assessed.
We will address the hypothesis that rDNA repeats represent a major hub of genomic instability contributing to malignant transformation. Using state-of-the-art experimental systems that allow enrichment for nucleolar DNA damage, we will explore: (i) hypothesis-driven and mass spectrometry-based approaches to define regulators of the rDNA damage response; (ii) live imaging and advanced molecular biology tools to uncover how histone epigenetic changes and formation of RNA:DNA hybrids impact on nucleolar chromatin, nucleolar organization, rDNA transcription and repair ; (iii) cell models that recapitulate malignant transformation caused by inducible oncogene expression or epigenetic inactivation of tumour suppressors, to assess replication stress in rDNA repeats as a primary source of genomic instability and pertinent to hallmarks of cancer.
The proposed research is expected to yield novel insights into the signaling networks and biological processes regulating rDNA damage and repair within the nuclear environment and define how these mechanisms are corrupted during neoplastic transformation. This knowledge could be directly applicable to the design of new diagnostic or therapeutic strategies for cancer.