My primary research focus is to dissect the molecular mechanisms by which DNA repair enzymes function because their defects often contribute to the early onset of genetic diseases. In particular, I am interested in how the FANCJ DNA helicase and the BRCA1 tumor suppressor assemble onto damaged DNA structures. Malfunctions of FANCJ and BRCA1 are strongly linked to breast and ovarian cancers, Fanconi anemia and congenital heart failure. I use a combination of biochemical/biophysical, single-molecule, and structural approaches to gain a detailed understanding of the macromolecular interactions involved in this DNA repair network.
