Research in the Dieckman lab focuses on the mechanisms by which errors in DNA replication and repair and chromatin organization lead to genome instability and disease. Specifically, our main goal is to characterize the interactions of key factors that are essential for the interplay between genomic and epigenetic stability. Two of these factors include the proteins PCNA (the processivity factor that stimulates DNA polymerases during DNA replication and repair) and CAF-1 (the main histone chaperone that is necessary for packaging DNA into nucleosomes following replication and repair). The interaction between PCNA and CAF-1 is crucial for proper DNA synthesis, assembly of nucleosomes, and preservation of epigenetic marks. Students will learn biochemical techniques used in modern biomedical research in order to determine the mechanistic basis of the network of interactions between CAF-1, PCNA, DNA, and other factors during replication-dependent nucleosome assembly and to work towards an understanding of proper DNA maintenance.
Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology Lynne Dieckman, Something’s gotta give: How PCNA alters its structure in response to mutations and the implications on cellular processes 2020
Journal of Biological Chemistry Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium has three transketolase enzymes contributing to the pentose phosphate pathway 293 (29), p. 11271-11282 2018
PLoS One Crystal structures of PCNA mutant proteins defective in gene silencing suggest a novel interaction site on the front face of the PCNA ring 13(3), p. e0193333 2018
McGraw Hill Aspirin 055900 2017
PLoS One Identification of New Mutations at the PCNA Subunit Interface that Block Translesion Synthesis 11(6), p. e0157023 2016
Nucleic Acids Research Eukaryotic Y-Family Polymerases: A Biochemical and Structural Perspective 30, p. 85-108 2014
Biochemistry Distinct Structural Alterations in PCNA Block DNA Mismatch Repair 52 (33), p. 5611-5619 2013
DNA Repair PCNA Trimer Instability Inhibits Translesion Synthesis by DNA Polymerase Eta and by DNA Polymerase Delta 12 (5), p. 367-376 2013
Springer Science+Business Media LLC PCNA Structure and Function: Insights from Structures of PCNA Complexes and Post-translationally Modified PCNA 62, p. 281-299 2012
Biochemistry Pre-steady State Kinetic Studies of the Fidelity of Nucleotide Incorporation by Yeast DNA Polymerase Delta 49 (34), p. 7344-7350 2010