How the HMCES protein helps protect and repair missing bits of DNA
Function of HMCES in abasic site repair and tolerance
This project is learning how the HMCES protein shields and helps repair spots in DNA that are missing, which could reduce DNA damage linked to cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11311935 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are working in the lab to see how HMCES finds tiny missing pieces in DNA and forms a protective link to prevent dangerous breaks. They will use purified proteins, DNA biochemistry, and cell-based experiments to watch how HMCES binds abasic sites and stops harmful cutting of DNA during replication. The team builds on earlier discoveries that HMCES creates a DNA-protein crosslink to protect single-stranded DNA and will define the molecular steps of that pathway. These experiments aim to clarify how cells tolerate and repair common forms of DNA damage caused by environmental toxins and normal cell processes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This is primarily laboratory research and does not currently enroll patients for treatment, though people with cancers linked to DNA repair defects might be relevant for future clinical follow-up studies.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate new therapies are unlikely to benefit now because the project focuses on basic biological mechanisms rather than testing treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new ways to prevent or treat cancers and other diseases caused by DNA damage by preserving genome stability or pointing to new drug targets.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory work by this team and others showed HMCES binds abasic sites and protects DNA, so this grant expands on those experimental findings rather than testing a novel clinical therapy.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, UNITED STATES
- Vanderbilt University — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cortez, David K — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Cortez, David K
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.