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The image by Robin Sebastian and Anoop Jose depicts histone variant imbalance at broken DNA.

Research Interests

Our lab investigates how epigenetic context affects genome maintenance pathways, and how this feature may be exploited to modulate cell function and malignant growth. We currently focus on:

(i) the crosstalk between chromatin composition and DNA repair outcome.

(ii) the modulation of DNA repair via chromatin-associated RNAs and their modifications. 

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The lab combines expertise in mouse genetics and molecular biology with imaging and epigenomics approaches to determine how DNA damage alters chromatin, gene expression and genome integrity in cell-based systems and mouse models. We have recently uncovered a prominent role for the splicing-regulated macro-histone variants macroH2A1.1 and macroH2A1.2 as effectors of DNA repair pathway choice, replication stress and telomere maintenance. Implications of macroH2A1 splice variant choice for replication integrity, malignant transformation and tumor cell sensitivity to genotoxic agents will be a major focus of our future research, particularly in the context of Homologous Recombination (HR) deficient cancers.

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This image depicts macroH2A1 splice variant structures and their differential ability to bind PAR

Adapted from Kustatscher et al., NSMB 2005

This image describes how macroH2A1 alternative splicing affects genome maintenance upon DNA damage.

In addition to histones and chromatin modulators, non-coding RNAs and RNA:DNA hybrid structures are emerging as an integral component of the epigenome. We are interested in the mechanisms by which RNA modulates the DNA repair process. Our preliminary data suggest a link between nucleosome composition, replication stress and RNA:DNA hybrid formation, which we are eager to pursue. Moreover, we and others recently identified a role N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-modified RNA methyltransferase in HR and hypothesize that m6A-modified RNA may provide temporal and spatial control of repair factor function and/or expression, thereby contributing to genome maintenance and malignant transformation.

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This image shows increased m6A RNA modifications on nuclear mRNA upon IR.

m6A RNA-modification accumulates at DSBs and on nuclear RNAs after DNA damage

Philipp Oberdoerffer, Ph. D.
Associate Professor

Johns Hopkins Medicine
Department of Radiation Oncology & Molecular Radiation Sciences
1550 Orleans St
Baltimore, MD 21287
Phone: 410-614-9223
Fax: 410-502-2821

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