Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

AG Burger

Biocenter of the University of Würzburg
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Am Hubland
97074 Würzburg

 

 


RNA metabolism in health and disease


 

 

 

 

 

 

Research synopsis


We are interested in RNA metabolic events that modulate the stability of the human genome in crosstalk with the DNA damage response. In particular, we aim to understand how the DNA damage response engages RNA metabolic hubs and nuclear bodies in DNA repair. We focus our investigations on RNA-binding proteins and long non-coding transcripts to elucidate RNA-dependent pathways that promote genomic stability in healthy cells and drive tumorigenesis upon deregulation.

 

 

Recent publications


In vivo Proximity Labeling of Nuclear and Nucleolar Proteins by a Stably Expressed, DNA Damage-Responsive NONO-APEX2 Fusion Protein. Trifault B, Mamontova V, Burger K. Front Mol Biosci. 2022 Jun 6;9:914873. doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.914873.

Compartment-Specific Proximity Ligation Expands the Toolbox to Assess the Interactome of the Long Non-Coding RNA NEAT1. Mamontova V, Trifault B, Burger K. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Apr 17;23(8):4432. doi: 10.3390/ijms23084432. Review.

Commuting to Work: Nucleolar Long Non-Coding RNA Control Ribosome Biogenesis from Near and Far. Mamontova V, Trifault B, Boten L, Burger K. Non-coding RNA. 2021 Jul 14;7(3):42. doi: 10.3390/ncrna7030042. Review.

Burger K, Schlackow M, Gullerova M (2019). Tyrosine kinase c-Abl couples RNA polymerase II transcription to DNA double-strand breaks. Nucleic Acids Res 47(7):3467-3484. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkz024.

Burger K, Gullerova M (2018). Nuclear re-localization of Dicer in primary mouse embryonic fibroblast nuclei following DNA damage.PLoS Genet 14(2):e1007151. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007151

Burger K, Schlackow M, Potts M, Hester S, Mohammed S, Gullerova M (2017). Nuclear phosphorylated Dicer processes double-stranded RNA in response to DNA damage. J Cell Biol 216(8):2373-2389. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201612131  

Research topics

Structure and function of paraspeckles in health and disease

Paraspeckles are nuclear bodies that form around the structural long non-coding RNA NEAT1 by associating numerous RNA-binding proteins. We wish to study the structure and function of NEAT1 and determine changes in the NEAT1 interactome during cellular transformation. The investigation of paraspeckle dynamics may provide novel insights in potential RNA-dependent mechanisms of genome maintenance. Read more

The role of RNA-binding proteins in genome maintenance

The DNA damage response engages components of nuclear paraspeckles to promote genome stability. We aim to understand how RNA-binding proteins respond to oncogenic stress and determine novel functions for RNA-binding proteins in the DNA damage response. Read more 

 

People

Kaspar Burger

Group leader

CV and interests

 

Tel: +49 931 31-48975

kaspar.burger@uni-wuerzburg.de

Barbara Trifault

PhD student

CV and interests

 

Tel: +49 931 31-94126

barbara.trifault@uni-wuerzburg.de

Victoria Mamontova

PhD student

CV and interests

 

Tel: +49 931 31-94126

victoria.mamontova@uni-wuerzburg.de