Julie Lund Petersen: When the cell’s Dr. Jekyll turns into Mr. Hyde – studies of a frequently occurring DNA damage
PhD defence, Friday 18 March 2022. Julie Lund Petersen.
During her PhD studies, Julie Lund Petersen investigated a common DNA damage, particularly how it is sensed and repaired by the cell. DNA damage causes problems when the DNA is copied prior to cell division. Julie has investigated a specific type of damage caused by abortive Topoisomerase I activity. Normally, Topoisomerase I relieves topological constraints in the DNA. Here, Julie has investigated the DNA structures that arise when the copying of the DNA encounters the damage, as well as the proteins that are recruited to the damage to make awareness of a problem and to repair the damage.
This work contributes to the understanding of how cells cope with DNA damage caused by abortive enzyme activity, which may play a role in our understanding of cancer progression as well as development of cancer therapy.
The PhD study was completed at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University. This summary was prepared by the PhD student.
Time: Friday, 18 March 2022 at 13:00
Place: Building 1441, room 112, Lecture Theatre 2, Arts, Aarhus University, Tåsingegade 3, 8000 Aarhus C
Title of PhD thesis: Abortive Topoisomerase I activity during replication: Global and local investigations
Contact information: Julie Lund Petersen, e-mail: jlp@mbg.au.dk, tel.: +45 26711357
Members of the assessment committee:
- Professor Giovanni Capranico, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy
- Associate Professor Vibe Hallundbæk Østergaard, Department of Biology, Copenhagen University, Denmark
- Associate Professor Ernst-Martin Füchtbauer (chairman), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor: Associate Professor Lotte Bjergbæk, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Denmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English
The defence is public. The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Natural Sciences/GSNS, Katrinebjergvej 89F, building 5132, 8200 Aarhus N.