Cellular genomes are continuously challenged by physical, chemical and biological agents that introduce changes of the chemical structure of the DNA. Intracellular reactive metabolites such as reactive oxygen species and alkylating compounds are important inducers of such changes.
Nevertheless, mutation frequencies are low because of very efficient pathways for DNA repair and DNA recombination, which remove DNA damage and conserve at least one functional copy of the genome.
Our main focus has been on repair of endogenous DNA base lesion repair mechanisms and genome stability. We have made major contributions to characterization of many new DNA repair enzymes from bacteria, yeast and mammals.
Our group has solved the atomic 3D-structure of many DNA-protein complexes revealing several new mechanisms of DNA base damage recognition and catalysis.
We have also established research on the role of DNA base lesion repair in neurodegeneration, cognition and behavior, which is a new direction in the DNA repair field revealing novel functions beyond canonical DNA.
Furthermore, we have established collaborations with clinicians to study the impact of DNA base lesion repair on diseases such as infections, heart failure, metabolic diseases and cancer.
Projects
- Molecular mechanisms of DNA base lesion repair. Project leader: Magnar Bjørås
- Role of oxidative DNA base lesion repair in cancer. Project leader: Magnar Bjørås
- Impact of oxidative DNA base lesion repair and epigenetics on brain function: cognition, behavior and neurogenesis. Project leaders: Magnar Bjørås and Katja Scheffler
- Small peptides in biological responses to DNA damage. Project leaders: Magnar Bjørås and James Booth
- Impact of Oxidation resistance gene 1 (Oxr1) in stress signalling. Project leader: Magnar Bjørås
Cooperation
We cooperate with several international researchers:
- Francoise Dantzer, Strasbourg, France
- Joann Sweasy, Yale, USA
- Lumir Kreji, Brno, Czech Republic
- Ingrun Alseth, Oslo
- Bjørn Dalhus Oslo
- Kirsten Skarstad, Oslo
- Ola Didrik Saugstad, Oslo
- Pål Aukrust, Oslo
- Linda Bergersen, Oslo
- Hilde Nilsen, Oslo
- Arne Klungland, Oslo
- Bente Halvorsen, Oslo
- Arne Yndestad, Oslo
- Ingrun Alseth, Oslo
- Lars Eide, Oslo
- Marit Otterlei, Trondheim
- Geir Slupphaug, Trondheim
- Pål Sætrom, Trondheim
- Valentyn Oksenych, Trondheim
- Barbara van Loon, Trondheim
