Nucleic Acid Stress

Nucleic acids are continuously exposed to a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic stresses that challenge the integrity and functionality of both DNA and RNA. DNA stress, for example resulting from replication fork stalling, transcription-replication conflicts, or genotoxic damage, threatens genome stability and is tightly monitored by complex checkpoint and repair networks. Likewise, RNA stress, which can arise from errors in transcription, RNA processing, or translation, as well as from environmental perturbations, activates a diverse array of surveillance and quality control mechanisms that safeguard the fidelity of gene expression.

In addition, external influences, including environmental conditions and individual experiences, can induce epigenetic modifications of DNA. These changes affect gene expression and protein biosynthesis, thereby influencing cellular metabolism as well as the function of the entire organism.

Recent studies suggest that DNA methylation may play a role in the development of depression. Epigenetics thus provides an explanation of how genetic predispositions, in interaction with environmental factors, can increase an individual’s risk of developing depressive disorders.

• Prof. Dr. Dieter Edbauer (Cell Biology of Neurodegeneration)
• Prof. Dr. Karl-Peter Hopfner (Regular Member, Structural Molecular Biology)
• Prof. Dr. Julian Stingele (Regular Member, Cellular Biochemistry)
• Prof. Dr. Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla (CAS Board, Epigenetics and Stem Cell Research)