Download gewone vergadering - Bataafsch Genootschap

GEWONE VERGADERING
DER LEDEN VAN HET
BATAAFSCH GENOOTSCHAP DER PROEFONDERVINDELIJKE WIJSBEGEERTE
TE ROTTERDAM
OP MAANDAG 9 JANUARI 2017 TE 20.00 UUR
In de zaal SH 2 van het Raadhuis
(ingang B via poort)
Spreker: Mw.Prof.dr. Claire Wyman
Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Genetics, Erasmus MC
ONDERWERP :
“ The Molecular Machines of DNA break repair, nanoscale events in
carcinogenesis”
We are discovering how proteins work together in complex and dynamic assemblies that
accomplish the work of living cells. We determine how proteins assemble into functional
nanomachinery when and where they are needed. Understanding the details of normal
molecular function, how this is disturbed in disease processes and how it can be modulated
therapeutically is essential for progress and advancement in medicine. My work currently
addresses genome maintenance by DNA repair processes, specifically DNA break repair by
homologous recombination. Homologous recombination is a process that depends on
sequential action of many enzymes to repair DNA structure while avoiding inappropriate
DNA rearrangements. The BRCA2 tumor suppressor protein is one of the essential players in
the process of homologous recombination repair of double strand breaks. We take advantage
of technical advances to image isolated BRCA2 with nanometer resolution and follow its
behavior in live cells. We have discovered and quantified structural features and activities of
BRCA2 and can determine if existing BRCA2 variants, such as human variants of unknown
significance, are disturbed in these features. Unraveling mechanistic details of this essential
genome maintenance pathway helps us understand how cancer develops and is potentially
useful for designing improved anti-cancer treatments.