Determining the role of R-loops in transcription-associated mutagenesis

Presenter's Name(s)

Laura Brooks

Abstract

DNA mutations are the leading cause of cancer, arising from endogenous and exogenous sources. My research focuses on transcription-associated mutagenesis (TAM) of human DNA, an understudied cancer etiology. Our lab hypothesizes that R-loops (RNA/DNA hybrids) affect the occurrence of transcription-associated large insertion and deletion mutations by contributing to double-strand break formation. To test this hypothesis, I am generating knockouts of SETX and XPF, two genes involved in R-loop processing. By characterizing these knockouts, I will determine if TAM mutation rates increase with elevated R-loop accumulation and decrease with the loss of XPF-mediated R-loop processing as predicted.

Primary Faculty Mentor Name

Tony Mertz

Status

Undergraduate

Student College

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Program/Major

Environmental Studies

Primary Research Category

Life Sciences

Abstract only.

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Determining the role of R-loops in transcription-associated mutagenesis

DNA mutations are the leading cause of cancer, arising from endogenous and exogenous sources. My research focuses on transcription-associated mutagenesis (TAM) of human DNA, an understudied cancer etiology. Our lab hypothesizes that R-loops (RNA/DNA hybrids) affect the occurrence of transcription-associated large insertion and deletion mutations by contributing to double-strand break formation. To test this hypothesis, I am generating knockouts of SETX and XPF, two genes involved in R-loop processing. By characterizing these knockouts, I will determine if TAM mutation rates increase with elevated R-loop accumulation and decrease with the loss of XPF-mediated R-loop processing as predicted.