Assembly and function of DNA double-strand break repair foci.

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My established research program stand out for using innovative, multi-disciplinary approaches to identify the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate the cellular response to DNA damage. This project centers on a fundamental question in cell biology, namely how are the different DNA repair pathways regulated and activated in response to a multitude of different DNA damaging events. There are specific molecular sensors for the different types of DNA damage, which then relay a specific response to downstream molecular complexes, resulting in cell cycle checkpoint activation and DNA repair pathway processing. The proposed work aims to develop and use different complimentary techniques that identify, quantify and characterize interaction networks of proteins involved in regulating DNA repair mechanisms. We will further extend our biochemical purification and mass spectrometry based assays to generate novel approaches, as well as improve on methods we have developed in the past. These methods will allow us to identify proteins that are recruited to sites of DNA damage, and determine their function in these important processes. Importantly, our approaches allow us to circumvent limitations of conventional biochemical techniques, which is essential for a complete characterization of the different component regulating DNA repair mechanisms. Thus, the technical expertise gained from the proposed studies will provide us with tools and expertise that can be use in our projects, as well as serve the rest of the scientific community. The field of proteomic research presents strong potential for novel and innovative discoveries, and is also a very sought after expertise in both academic and industry research laboratories. As such, this research program is perfectly fitted for students and personals willing to gain this unique expertise.