Project description
Specific genomic areas as hotspots for cancer transformation
DNA is a macromolecule that contains our genetic information, constantly found under attack resulting in DNA damage. Failure to repair this damage is associated with numerous diseases, cancer being the most prominent one. Certain DNA features including sequence repetition and spatial organisation can make DNA more susceptible to damage or more difficult to repair. The ribosomal DNA (rDNA) is mostly known for coding ribosomal RNA, a molecule critical to protein synthesis. Special characteristics of rDNA, including high rates of rRNA generation, repetitive nature and spreading into different chromosomes, may constitute rDNA repeats a hotspot of cancer transformation. The EU-funded NUCDDR project is exploiting this hypothesis, investigating rDNA damage, repair mechanisms and the potential correlation between rDNA damage and cancer.
Objective
DNA lesions can impose serious threats to genome integrity and cell viability. Whereas DNA damage may occur anywhere in the genome, it is increasingly recognized that certain genomic loci rich in repetitive sequences display increased susceptibility to damage and are linked to chromosomal rearrangements and malignancy. Clusters of ribosomal DNA gene (rDNA) repeats, present on five different chromosomes, constitute the most heavily transcribed area of the human genome and are organized in a nuclear membrane-less organelle, the nucleolus. So far, putative links between rDNA damage and malignant processes have not been rigorously assessed.
We will address the hypothesis that rDNA repeats represent a major hub of genomic instability contributing to malignant transformation. Using state-of-the-art experimental systems that allow enrichment for nucleolar DNA damage, we will explore: (i) hypothesis-driven and mass spectrometry-based approaches to define regulators of the rDNA damage response; (ii) live imaging and advanced molecular biology tools to uncover how histone epigenetic changes and formation of RNA:DNA hybrids impact on nucleolar chromatin, nucleolar organization, rDNA transcription and repair ; (iii) cell models that recapitulate malignant transformation caused by inducible oncogene expression or epigenetic inactivation of tumour suppressors, to assess replication stress in rDNA repeats as a primary source of genomic instability and pertinent to hallmarks of cancer.
The proposed research is expected to yield novel insights into the signaling networks and biological processes regulating rDNA damage and repair within the nuclear environment and define how these mechanisms are corrupted during neoplastic transformation. This knowledge could be directly applicable to the design of new diagnostic or therapeutic strategies for cancer.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics chromosomes
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) ERC-2019-STG
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265 04 RIO PATRAS
Greece
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