Grant: Project Grant

Damage to our DNA is a major cause of ageing, cancer, and neurodevelopmental disorders. To defend against DNA damage, our cells have evolved systems that scan the more than 1 metre of DNA that is in each of our cells to look for and repair microscopic forms of damage before problems can occur. The importance of these systems has been underlined by the fact that defects in these systems are related to major forms of hereditary cancers. Our lab is working to understand how damaged areas of DNA are identified by an important class of proteins called the BRCT proteins. In this proposal, we have set out a plan to develop tools to allow us to control the activities of BRCT proteins, and to image these proteins as they interact with the damaged DNA. The results of this work will provide insights into the natural ways that our cells protect themselves against DNA damage, and could suggest new ways to prevent or treat diseases associated with DNA damage.