R-loop biology in mammals
I am focused on understanding the formation, function, and resolution of R-loop structures, a class of non-B DNA structures formed upon the annealing of an RNA strand to one strand of the DNA duplex. Genome-wide mapping data from my laboratory established that R-loop structures are the most abundant non-B DNA structures in mammalian genomes and suggests that they represent a novel type of cis-acting DNA element. Our main research themes are:
Developing and improving genomics technologies to map R-loop formation.
Analyzing the relationship between R-loop structures and chromatin states.
Understanding the mechanisms by which R-loops are formed, sensed, and dynamically resolved.
Elucidating how dysfunctions in R-loop metabolism is linked to human diseases, in particular, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.
