How cells put protective DNA clamps on chromosomes
Structural basis of eukaryotic clamp loading
Researchers will use high-resolution imaging and yeast models to learn how DNA 'clamp' proteins are placed on chromosomes to help prevent DNA damage that can lead to cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11254909 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project recreates the molecular machines that load ring-shaped 'clamp' proteins onto DNA using baker's yeast proteins and purified components in the lab. Scientists will combine biochemical reconstitution with cryogenic electron microscopy to capture high-resolution structural snapshots of clamp loaders, clamps, and DNA during replication and repair. The team builds on recent structures and aims to fill key gaps in how clamp loaders find the right sites and open or close clamps around DNA. Although experiments use model systems, the proteins and mechanisms are conserved in humans and relate directly to genome stability and cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This laboratory-focused grant does not enroll patients; people with inherited DNA repair disorders or certain cancers might be future beneficiaries of the results.
Not a fit: Patients needing immediate treatment or those with conditions unrelated to DNA repair or genome stability are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic research in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could reveal mechanisms or molecular targets that guide future cancer diagnostics or treatments focused on preserving genome stability.
How similar studies have performed: Prior cryo-EM and biochemical work has already produced initial structures of clamp-loader complexes in yeast, showing the approach yields valuable mechanistic insight though it is still early for clinical application.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Remus, Dirk — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Remus, Dirk
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.