Date of Award
2017
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Biological and Environmental Sciences
Specialization
Cell and Molecular Biology
Department
Cell & Molecular Biology
First Advisor
Niall Howlett
Abstract
Fanconi Anemia (FA) is a rare autosomal X-linked recessive disorder, characterized by congenital abnormalities, pediatric bone marrow failure and cancer susceptibility. FA is caused by biallelic mutation in any one of 22 different genes. The main functions of the FA-BRCA pathway is the resolution of interstrand crosslinks (ICLs) within the DNA. The main activating step of the pathway is the monoubiquitination of the proteins FANCD2 and FANCI. In the first chapter of this dissertation I discuss how methylation and acetylation affect chromatin architecture and activation of the pathway. In the second chapter I will discuss the effects of FANCD2 phosphorylation in a DNA damage-independent, cell cycle-dependent manner. We show that monoubiquitination of FANCD2 is blocked by phosphorylation and that this phosphorylation acts as a molecular switch to alter FANCD2 function.
Recommended Citation
Vierra, David II, "Insights Into Chromatin Modification and FANCD2 Phosphorylation in DNA Damage Repair" (2017). Open Access Dissertations. Paper 660.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/oa_diss/660
Terms of Use
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