Research

Our lab studies cell free damaged DNA in context of autoimmune disorders

What is cell free DNA?

image of extracellular vesicles and thier sizes, diagram of a nucleosome and a 30nm fiber, circular DNA diagram, mitochondrial DNA in circular or linear form, or NETs with granular proteins shown.

DNA can be released from cells in association with vesicles such as apoptotic bodies or exosomes, as nucelosomal fragments, as circular DNA, mitochondrial DNA, or by neutrophils in neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs).

Damaged DNA

Genotoxin treatments UVB/UVB, UVB/UVC, cisplatin, EdU, F-ara-EdU and thier lesions cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers, 6-4photoproducts, Cisplatin-DNA adducts,EdU and F-ara-EdU structure.

We have detected lesion-containing DNA in the cell free space after treatment with each of the genotoxins/DNA modifying treatments. These can be detected using immunoblot or click-chemistry.

Projects

Excretion of UVB photoproducts in biofluids

Circulation of UVB photoproducts

Response to damaged DNA in bystander cells