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Grants

MyRIP and exosomes function to control genomic stability

Genomic instability leads to loss, mutation, translocation or amplification of genetic information, all of which are key processes in the development of cancer. Once a tumour begins to develop, genomic instability allows further genetic changes to occur that may allow rapid cellular growth, metastasis and resistance to chemotherapeutics and radiation. It is therefore vital that we understand how human cells maintain genomic stability and identify the key genomic stability regulators that are dysfunctional in cancer, to aid in the development of more effective therapies. Exosomes are microvesicles that are shed by cells into the extracellular matrix (ECM). Serum levels of exosomes are elevated and provide prognostic information in cancer with evidence suggesting that they function to transfer signalling proteins/RNA between cells.

This project aims to:

  1. Characterise the requirement of MyRIP for a timely DNA damage response.
  2. Understand the mechanism by which MyRIP responds to DNA damage.
  3. To understand how exosomes function to transport DNA from the damaged cell and understand mechanistically the consequence of that transport on surrounding cells.

Investigators

Jyotsna Batra APCRC-Q, IHBI, QUT, TRI

Duration

2014 - 2015

Funding

Cancer Australia $200 000