Topic Overview:

Repair of DNA damage is crucial to prevent accumulation of mutations that can cause human disease, such as cancer. The Bernstein lab studies how double-strand breaks in DNA—one of the most lethal types of DNA lesions—are repaired. By understanding the mechanism of double-strand break repair and the role of DNA repair proteins in this process, Bernstein hopes to uncover mechanisms of tumorigenesis and cancer progression.  

Although scientists have identified many proteins involved in the DNA repair process, we still have limited understanding of how their disruption leads to the genomic instability observed during tumorigenesis. The Shu complex consists of four proteins (Shu1, Shu2, Psy3, and Csm2) that are involved in the decision between error-free and error-prone DNA repair. In this seminar, Bernstein will discuss how the Shu complex is an important regulator of the DNA repair process.