Well, my research focuses on DNA damage repair. In particular, the repair of DNA damage induced by topoisomerase inhibitors, by PARP inhibitors, and by aldehydes. I'm trying to illustrate the molecular mechanisms by which the cells repair DNA protein crosslinks induced by these drugs.
Recent advances in the repair of DNA protein crosslinks include the identification of novel repair pathways for DNA protein crosslinks and the post transplant modification mechanisms that regulate these repair pathways. In Vivo Complex of Enzyme assay and the Rapid Approach to DNA Adduct Recovery assay are the most used methods to measure DNA protein crosslinks and certain DNA protein crosslinks, such as topoisomerase one DNA protein crosslinks, can be detected by immunofluorescence using a specific antibody. One of the biggest challenges is the study of the role of post-translational modifications in the repair of DNA protein crosslinks.
It has been very challenging to enrich and detect post-translational modifier conjugated DNA protein crosslinks due to their very low abundance. This protocol provides details of the detection of a quantitation of deubiquitylated, SUMOylated and ADP-ribosylated DNA protein crosslinks, allowing researchers to study the kinetics and formation of these modifications in the repair of DNA protein crosslinks from different sources. Other protocols for the detection of DNA protein crosslinks do not contain steps describing detection of their post-translational modifications.
While this protocol provides details such as drug concentrations and time durations to induce the modifications and methods to separate and detect modifications as well as methods to stabilize modifications. So several post transplant modifications have been identified in the repair of DNA protein crosslinks. How they coordinate the repair remains largely unknown.
So as a result, the interplay between these modifications warrant further investigation.
