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SCMM organises a talk by Dr. Ganesh Nagaraju

SCMM organises a talk by Dr. Ganesh Nagaraju

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SCMM organises a talk by Dr. Ganesh Nagaraju
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Special Centre for Molecular Medicine
Jawaharlal Nehru University

 

Seminar Notice

 

Title: RAD51 paralogs: unraveling the new roles in genome stability and tumor suppression

 

Dr. Ganesh Nagaraju
Associate Professor
Dept. of Biochemistry; Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore


Abstract: RAD51 recombinase plays a central role in homologous recombination (HR) mediated repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Mammalian cells encode five RAD51 paralogs: RAD51B, RAD51C, RAD51D, XRCC2 and XRCC3. These paralogs have been implicated in repair of DSBs by HR and DNA damage signaling. Mouse knockout of any one paralogs leads to embryonic lethality, implying the essential functions of RAD51 paralogs in genome maintenance. Recent studies show that germline mutations in RAD51 paralogs cause breast and ovarian cancers as well as Fanconi anemia (FA)-like disorder. Using pathological RAD51C mutants our lab showed that RAD51C distinctly regulates DNA damage signaling and repair. We showed that RAD51C binding partner XRCC3 S225 undergoes phosphorylation in an ATM/ATR kinase dependent manner and this phosphorylation is crucial for the execution of intra-S-phase checkpoint and DSB repair by HR. In an effort to understand the essential roles of RAD51 paralogs, our investigations revealed that RAD51 paralogs in distinct complexes regulate replication fork stability and its restart. Our recent work shows that XRCC2 restrains pathological fork progression during dNTP alterations and safeguards the genome integrity. The fork restraining function is dependent on XRCC2 S247 phosphorylation by ATR kinase. When the fork collapses in the absence of XRCC2 or its phosphorylation, we find an early activation of XRCC3 by ATR which promotes cell survival and genome integrity. Together, these data provide evidence for the new roles of RAD51 paralogs in genome maintenance and tumor suppression.

 

Date: Thursday 14 November, 2019
Time: 11.00 AM
Venue: Seminar Hall, SCMM

 

All are welcome

A warm welcome to the modified and updated website of the Centre for East Asian Studies. The East Asian region has been at the forefront of several path-breaking changes since 1970s beginning with the redefining the development architecture with its State-led development model besides emerging as a major region in the global politics and a key hub of the sophisticated technologies. The Centre is one of the thirteen Centres of the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi that provides a holistic understanding of the region.

Initially, established as a Centre for Chinese and Japanese Studies, it subsequently grew to include Korean Studies as well. At present there are eight faculty members in the Centre. Several distinguished faculty who have now retired include the late Prof. Gargi Dutt, Prof. P.A.N. Murthy, Prof. G.P. Deshpande, Dr. Nranarayan Das, Prof. R.R. Krishnan and Prof. K.V. Kesavan. Besides, Dr. Madhu Bhalla served at the Centre in Chinese Studies Programme during 1994-2006. In addition, Ms. Kamlesh Jain and Dr. M. M. Kunju served the Centre as the Documentation Officers in Chinese and Japanese Studies respectively.

The academic curriculum covers both modern and contemporary facets of East Asia as each scholar specializes in an area of his/her interest in the region. The integrated course involves two semesters of classes at the M. Phil programme and a dissertation for the M. Phil and a thesis for Ph. D programme respectively. The central objective is to impart an interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of history, foreign policy, government and politics, society and culture and political economy of the respective areas. Students can explore new and emerging themes such as East Asian regionalism, the evolving East Asian Community, the rise of China, resurgence of Japan and the prospects for reunification of the Korean peninsula. Additionally, the Centre lays great emphasis on the building of language skills. The background of scholars includes mostly from the social science disciplines; History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, International Relations and language.

Several students of the centre have been recipients of prestigious research fellowships awarded by Japan Foundation, Mombusho (Ministry of Education, Government of Japan), Saburo Okita Memorial Fellowship, Nippon Foundation, Korea Foundation, Nehru Memorial Fellowship, and Fellowship from the Chinese and Taiwanese Governments. Besides, students from Japan receive fellowship from the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.