The ability of the cell to maintain the stability of its genome is critical for survival, and eukaryotic cells are constantly challenged by both exogenous and endogenous sources of DNA damage. Cells are particularly susceptible to DNA damage during replication, when replication-blocking lesions can lead to collapse of a replication fork and formation of a double-strand break. As a result, cells have finely tuned processes to repair DNA damage during replication and to stabilize and restart forks that have stalled during DNA replication. Importantly, defects in these processes have been linked to a growing number of human diseases, among which are a number of syndromes associated with congenital and developmental defects as well as a predisposition to cancer. The overall objective of the studies proposed here is to identify and characterize new pathways and proteins involved in maintaining genomic integrity and replication fork stability. We recently conducted an unbiased genome-wide siRNA screen in human cells to identify candidate genes involved in these processes. Amongst our screening hits are many genes with no previously known connections to genome stability pathways. Here, we propose a series of additional assays to identify novel effectors of replication fork stability among our candidates. The unbiased approach we have taken has the potential to reveal unexpected connections between genome stability and other cellular processes, and to define new mechanisms by which cells maintain genome stability. Thus, we anticipate that these experiments will open novel avenues of investigation.

Public Health Relevance

Defects in DNA damage response pathways have been linked to a growing number of human diseases, among which are a number of syndromes associated with a predisposition to cancer as well as congenital and developmental defects. Thus, the proteins and processes that we may link to replication fork stability could be responsible for some of these disease, and the knowledge gained from understanding the signaling pathways linked to these syndromes could provide critical insights relevant to their diagnosis, treatment and etiology.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
3R21ES016867-02S1
Application #
7900823
Study Section
Cancer Genetics Study Section (CG)
Program Officer
Reinlib, Leslie J
Project Start
2009-09-02
Project End
2010-07-31
Budget Start
2009-09-02
Budget End
2010-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$75,000
Indirect Cost
Name
Stanford University
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
009214214
City
Stanford
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94305
Choi, Hyo Jei Claudia; Lin, Jia-Ren; Vannier, Jean-Baptiste et al. (2013) NEK8 links the ATR-regulated replication stress response and S phase CDK activity to renal ciliopathies. Mol Cell 51:423-39
Paulsen, Renee D; Soni, Deena V; Wollman, Roy et al. (2009) A genome-wide siRNA screen reveals diverse cellular processes and pathways that mediate genome stability. Mol Cell 35:228-39
Driscoll, Robert; Cimprich, Karlene A (2009) HARPing on about the DNA damage response during replication. Genes Dev 23:2359-65