Molecular mechanisms underlying DNA replication

Speaker          :   GUO Shiwen (Graduate Student, MBI, NUS)

Date                :   13 Mar 2017, Monday

Time                :   2pm

Venue             :   MBI, level 5 seminar rooms

Supervisor(s)  :  Prof YAN Jie

Abstract: The DNA replisome is a highly organized integrity with great efficiency and accuracy. In DNA replication, primase is a key enzyme to initiate the synthesis of new DNA strand by priming a short RNA oligomer on parental single stranded DNA (ssDNA). After that, DNA replication proceeds with classical DNA polymerases like polymerase , and . It has been known that these DNA polymerases are sensitive to various obstacles such as DNA damage lesions or DNA secondary structures. As a result, these obstacles lead to replication stress that may cause replication fork stalling and potential collapse. Members of archaeo-eukaryotic primases (AEPs) are necessary to initiate DNA replication and prevent replication fork stalling in archaea and eukarya. In my PhD thesis, I aim to study the mechanisms of the only two human AEPs that have been identified up to date: primase that initiates the replication, and PrimPol that prevents replication fork stalling. My studies will be mainly based on single-molecule technologies. I envision that these explorations will provide important novel insights into the mechanisms associated with the functions of the two AEPs at a single-molecule level.

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