Overview

The Program in Nucleic Acid Biology focuses on mechanisms underlying DNA replication and mutagenesis as well as on the posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression by processes such as alternative splicing and microRNA function.  The Program includes basic researchers interested in cell transformation and cancer that focus their work on a wide range of interrelated topics, including human genetics, DNA replication and repair, mRNA transcription and processing and gene regulation by endogenous or introduced non-coding RNAs.  Program members share a common interest in the role of protein:nucleic acid interactions in regulating gene expression and cell growth.  Although there is a significant interest in using prokaryotic model systems, the primary focus is on eukaryotic cells.  Members interact through regularly scheduled research presentations, such as those sponsored by the Duke Center for RNA Biology, and through a wide range of relevant seminar presentations.  Collaborations between members of the program, and particularly with other Cancer Center members, are numerous and productive.  A new initiative relates to efforts to use RNA interference (RNAi) to study the role of specific viral and cellular gene products in the regulation of cell growth and transformation as well as to study the potentially critical role of the large endogenous family of non-coding RNA, termed microRNAs, in these processes.  Co-leaders of the Program are Bryan R. Cullen, James B. Duke Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, and Mariano Garcia-Blanco, Professor of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology. The Program includes 18 members from 7 departments—one department from Duke University, and two clinical and four basic science departments from Duke University Medical Center.  The program serves to focus the research of this very strong group of scientists on different aspects of the molecular genetics of cancer. 

High-Impact Journal Publications

Below are recent publications in high-impact journals from Cancer Center members in this program. To see journal articles for a particular member, click on the researcher's name in the Membership section.

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Kim N,Jinks-Robertson S. dUTP incorporation into genomic DNA is linked to transcription in yeast., , (1150-3) - Nature Abstract [More ...]

Celniker SE,Dillon LA,Gerstein MB,Gunsalus KC,Henikoff S,Karpen GH,Kellis M,Lai EC,Lieb JD,MacAlpine DM,Micklem G,Piano F,Snyder M,Stein L,White KP,Waterston RH. Unlocking the secrets of the genome., , (927-30) - Nature No abstract available [More ...]

Kadyrov FA,Genschel J,Fang Y,Penland E,Edelmann W,Modrich P. A possible mechanism for exonuclease 1-independent eukaryotic mismatch repair., , (8495-500) - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Abstract [More ...]

Marengo MS,Garcia-Blanco MA. Shedding UV light on alternative splicing., , (600-2) - Cell Abstract [More ...]

Sessions OM,Barrows NJ,Souza-Neto JA,Robinson TJ,Hershey CL,Rodgers MA,Ramirez JL,Dimopoulos G,Yang PL,Pearson JL,Garcia-Blanco MA. Discovery of insect and human dengue virus host factors., , (1047-50) - Nature Abstract [More ...]

Lehner K,Jinks-Robertson S. The mismatch repair system promotes DNA polymerase {zeta}-dependent translesion synthesis in yeast., . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Abstract [More ...]

Cullen BR. Viral RNAs: lessons from the enemy., , (592-7) - Cell Abstract [More ...]

Nicchitta CV. Cell biology: How to combat stress., , (668-9) - Nature No abstract available [More ...]

Cullen BR. Viral and cellular messenger RNA targets of viral microRNAs., , (421-5) - Nature Abstract [More ...]

Nimonkar AV,Ozsoy AZ,Genschel J,Modrich P,Kowalczykowski SC. Human exonuclease 1 and BLM helicase interact to resect DNA and initiate DNA repair., , (16906-11) - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Abstract [More ...]

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Click here for these and other high-impact publications in this research program.