Finding where DNA-copying and gene-reading machines briefly clash
Mapping transient interactions with and on genomic DNA
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY · NIH-11322050
This project will develop a way to pinpoint where DNA-unwinding enzymes and gene-reading machines meet, helping scientists learn how those clashes can lead to cancer.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | NEW YORK UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11322050 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will attach a special marker to enzymes that unwind DNA so they can record exactly where those enzymes are actively working on the genome. They will use baker's yeast as a model to map these active unwinding sites at high resolution and to see whether different helicases cover for one another. The team will also study where DNA copying and gene-reading processes collide and whether those collisions face each other or move in the same direction. The goal is to create a clearer map of the genome locations prone to instability that can inform future cancer research.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers linked to mutations in DNA helicase or DNA-repair genes may be most likely to benefit from findings derived from this work.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to DNA replication, transcription, or genome instability are unlikely to see direct benefits from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal mechanisms that cause genome instability in cancer and suggest new targets for diagnosis or treatment down the line.
How similar studies have performed: Existing methods map protein-DNA binding but do not distinguish active helicase unwinding, so the approach is novel and builds on but goes beyond prior mapping techniques.
Where this research is happening
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- NEW YORK UNIVERSITY — NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: SMITH, DUNCAN J — NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: SMITH, DUNCAN J
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Cancers