Structures and mechanisms of key components in the DNA damage response

The fidelity and stability of a cell's DNA are critical for the survival and proper functioning of an organism. There are tens of thousands of DNA damage events every day, and a double-strand break is one of the most severe types that can occur. Consequently, damaged DNA needs to be repaired rapidly as failure to do so can lead to cell death or the development of cancer. As a result, cells have evolved systems to sense, signal and repair this damage. The focus of Professor Zhang's Investigator Award will be using structural biology approaches to provide a mechanistic insight into key steps in the cell’s response to a double-strand break.