How environmental chemicals change DNA and RNA
Chemical Biology of DNA and RNA Alkylation
This work looks at how common environmental chemicals attach to and alter DNA and RNA and what that means for people exposed to them or those with repeat-expansion diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Riverside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Riverside, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11304486 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use human cells grown in the lab to track how alkylating chemicals attach to DNA and RNA and how those lesions affect cell processes. They will examine how specialized DNA-copying enzymes let cells copy past damaged DNA and identify which proteins recognize and respond to these chemical lesions. The team will also study RNA methylation and its possible role in trinucleotide repeat expansion diseases using proteomics and epitranscriptomic methods. The goal is to connect molecular changes caused by environmental alkylators to health consequences and points where prevention or repair could intervene.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with trinucleotide repeat expansion disorders or individuals with known or suspected exposure to alkylating agents who are willing to provide biological samples would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients without relevant chemical exposure or without repeat-expansion disorders are unlikely to see direct benefits from this lab-focused research in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal ways to prevent or reduce harmful effects from environmental alkylating chemicals and offer insights relevant to repeat-expansion neurological diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory studies have mapped many DNA repair pathways and identified RNA modifications, but translating those findings into prevention of harm from environmental alkylators remains an emerging area.
Where this research is happening
Riverside, United States
- University of California Riverside — Riverside, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Yinsheng — University of California Riverside
- Study coordinator: Wang, Yinsheng
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.