Role of mammalian RAD51 paralogs in replication stress response and genome maintenance

Abstract

The focus of my research has been to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of mammalian RAD51 paralogs in genome maintenance and tumor suppression. The investigation carried out during this study has contributed to identify unanticipated functions of these genome caretakers in the cellular response to replication stress and accompanying repair mechanisms. These include maintenance of cellular nucleotide pools through the regulation of ribonucleotide reductase (RNR), modulation of replication fork progression during nucleotide pool alterations and protection of stressed forks to foster genome integrity during perturbed DNA replication. Moreover, my study has uncovered an ATR signaling governed functional interplay between RAD51 paralogs, where distinct paralog complexes collaboratively facilitate genome integrity and cell survival during replication stress