How oxidative DNA damage (8-oxoG) affects DNA copying and genome stability
Investigating the Cellular Impact of 8-oxo-Guanine on DNA Replication and Genome Stability
Researchers are using a precise light-activated tool to create a common oxidative DNA lesion (8-oxoG) in human cells to learn how it blocks DNA copying and can lead to genome instability linked to cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11225123 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses a light-activated protein system that produces singlet oxygen to make 8-oxoG, a common type of oxidative DNA damage, at specific genome locations or across the whole genome in human cells. By attaching the light-activated component to telomere or histone proteins, scientists can control exactly where and when the damage occurs and then watch how DNA replication handles the lesion. The team will track whether replication stalls, how repair pathways respond, and whether these events produce mutations or chromosome instability. The work aims to connect a single, well-defined DNA lesion to the cellular processes that can promote cancer and aging.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This is lab-based research that does not enroll patients, but the findings are most relevant to people with cancer or those exposed to high oxidative stress (for example, smokers or people with heavy sun exposure).
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to DNA damage or oxidative stress are unlikely to see direct benefit from this research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal molecular steps that turn oxidative DNA damage into mutations, pointing to new targets for preventing or treating cancers driven by oxidative stress.
How similar studies have performed: 8-oxoG has been studied extensively in test-tube and cellular systems, but the chemoptogenetic method used here to produce 8-oxoG with spatial and temporal precision is relatively new and enables experiments not previously possible.
Where this research is happening
Kansas City, United States
- University of Kansas Medical Center — Kansas City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barnes, Ryan P — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Barnes, Ryan P
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.