RNA-directed targeting of AID in immunity and cancer

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ABSTRACT Upon encountering antigens, mature B cells express activation induced cytidine deaminase (AID) and undergo immunoglobulin heavy chain (Igh) class switch recombination (CSR) and somatic hypermutation (SHM). CSR proceeds through the obligate generation of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs), which constitute one of the most toxic lesions that can occur in a cell. A single unrepaired DSB can cause cell death or potentiate chromosomal translocations that are hallmarks of many types of cancer, including lymphomas. Thus, mechanisms that promote generation of DSBs and facilitate DSB repair are intergral to both immunity and preservation of genomic integrity. In this proposal we test the notion that non-canonical DNA structures such as G-quadruplexes target the DNA deaminase AID to the chromatin during CSR (aim 1) and that AID can regulate expression of non-Ig genes to influence B cell responses (aim 2). Successful completion of the experiments will have far reaching implications in our understanding of both B cell immunity and B cell lymphomas.