UBIQUITIN-mediated events in the control of GENOME INSTABILITY

To preserve genomic integrity cells evolved a complex process called “DNA damage response” or DDR, responsible for the detection and repair of DNA lesions. Phosphorylation and ubiquitination are master regulators of DDR; alteration of these processes leads to genomic instability, which is one of the most pervasive characteristics of human cancers.

We identified an essential player of this pathway, namely the ubiquitin ligase RNF168, and we characterized a novel ubiquitin-based code – made by K27 non-canonical ubiquitination targeting the K13/K15 site on histone H2A - that cells use to mark chromatin structure, to signal DNA damage and to activate DNA repair. The current interest of the lab is to expand our knowledge on the molecular mechanisms regulating genome stability and to understand how post-translational modifications – mainly ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like events – finely and dynamically tune both DNA damage response/DNA repair and DNA replication. The student will be part of the lab, dealing with different aspects of the project and with various techniques: biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, proteomics, FACS analysis, immunofluorescence and imaging.

 

 

   

Institute of Molecular Cancer Research  

Lorenza Penengo Group www.imcr.uzh.ch/research/Penengo.html

Application: penengo@imcr.uzh.ch Starting date: Fall/Winter 2016 Duration: 12 months  

MSc Thesis Position in Cancer Biology