The applicant proposes to investigate the molecular basis of the human genetic neurodegenerative disease, ataxia telangiectasia (AT). This project will focus on the apparent abnormal response of AT cells to DNA-damaging agents. Dr. Dixon postulates that this abnormal response leads to the enhanced cell death and genetic instability associated with the disease. Abnormal responses of AT cells to ionizing radiation (IR) have been well documented. Dr. Dixon has confirmed that AT cells also respond abnormally to UV radiation in that they fail to exhibit G1/S arrest following exposure to UV. Dr. Dixon proposes to trace the signal transduction events that are known to follow exposure of cells to UV and IR to determine where the defect arises in AT. Two hypothesis will be tested: (1) AT are defective in a critical step in the mitogen-activated signal transduction pathway that is triggered by UV and IR; (2) AT cells are defective in a signal transduction pathway initiated at the level of DNA damage recognition.
The specific aims of this project are: (1) to determine whether AT cells exhibit the normal early responses to UV and IR; (2) to determine whether AT cells are defective in DNA damage-induced signal transduction events thought to be related to cell DNA synthesis arrest; (3) to correlate the signal transduction defect with the biological consequences of the AT defect. The ultimate goal of this project is to define the underlying defect in the response of AT cells to UV and IR with the hope that this understanding will lead to the development of strategies for treating this disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS034782-02
Application #
2635772
Study Section
Metabolic Pathology Study Section (MEP)
Program Officer
Spinella, Giovanna M
Project Start
1997-01-01
Project End
1999-12-31
Budget Start
1998-01-01
Budget End
1998-12-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1998
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Cincinnati
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Cincinnati
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
45221
Thompson, Eric G; Fares, Hanna; Dixon, Kathleen (2012) BRCA1 requirement for the fidelity of plasmid DNA double-strand break repair in cultured breast epithelial cells. Environ Mol Mutagen 53:32-43
Rahal, Elias A; Henricksen, Leigh A; Li, Yuling et al. (2010) ATM regulates Mre11-dependent DNA end-degradation and microhomology-mediated end joining. Cell Cycle 9:2866-77
Rahal, Elias A; Henricksen, Leigh A; Li, Yuling et al. (2008) ATM mediates repression of DNA end-degradation in an ATP-dependent manner. DNA Repair (Amst) 7:464-75
Robison, Jacob G; Bissler, John J; Dixon, Kathleen (2007) Replication protein A is required for etoposide-induced assembly of MRE11/RAD50/NBS1 complex repair foci. Cell Cycle 6:2408-16
Robison, Jacob G; Dixon, Kathleen; Bissler, John J (2007) Cell cycle-and proteasome-dependent formation of etoposide-induced replication protein A (RPA) or Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1 (MRN) complex repair foci. Cell Cycle 6:2399-407
Patrick, Steve M; Oakley, Greg G; Dixon, Kathleen et al. (2005) DNA damage induced hyperphosphorylation of replication protein A. 2. Characterization of DNA binding activity, protein interactions, and activity in DNA replication and repair. Biochemistry 44:8438-48
Robison, Jacob G; Lu, Lu; Dixon, Kathleen et al. (2005) DNA lesion-specific co-localization of the Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1 (MRN) complex and replication protein A (RPA) to repair foci. J Biol Chem 280:12927-34
Nuss, Jonathan E; Patrick, Steve M; Oakley, Greg G et al. (2005) DNA damage induced hyperphosphorylation of replication protein A. 1. Identification of novel sites of phosphorylation in response to DNA damage. Biochemistry 44:8428-37
Dixon, Kathleen; Kopras, Elizabeth (2004) Genetic alterations and DNA repair in human carcinogenesis. Semin Cancer Biol 14:441-8
Robison, Jacob G; Elliott, James; Dixon, Kathleen et al. (2004) Replication protein A and the Mre11.Rad50.Nbs1 complex co-localize and interact at sites of stalled replication forks. J Biol Chem 279:34802-10

Showing the most recent 10 out of 14 publications