Biological and Genomic Treatment Approaches
Prof. Dr. Dana Branzei
University Alliance Ruhr, One Health Ruhr
Faculty of Biology
Center of Medical Biotechnology (ZMB)
University of Duisburg-Essen
- +49 201 183 7591
- S05 R02 H75
- ORCID ID: 0000-0002-0544-4888
Research Overview
DNA and chromosome transactions safeguarding genome integrity
Genome integrity is maintained by a finely tuned network of processes that span from the onset of DNA replication to the faithful segregation of chromosomes. A core set of evolutionarily conserved replisome-associated factors orchestrate the interplay between DNA replication, recombination, and sister chromatid cohesion, ensuring that dividing cells inherit stable genomes. Mutations in these factors underlie various genetic disorders and predispose individuals to cancer. But how do cells achieve such extraordinary precision in duplicating and organizing their genomes while preserving integrity?
Our laboratory takes a comprehensive, systems-level approach to uncover how cells replicate DNA accurately, repair damage with minimal mutagenesis, and segregate sister chromatids with fidelity.
Selected Publications
Barnabas Szakal, Michele Giannattasio, Dana Branzei* (2024). SnapShot: Tolerating replication stress.
Mol Cell, 84(1): 182-182.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.11.031.
Aki Nunomiya, Barnabas Szakal, Dana Branzei* (2024). SnapShot: DNA repair pathways.
Mol Cell, 84(1):180-180.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.11.030.
Ivan Psakhye*, Ryotaro Kawasumi, Takuya Abe, Kouji Hirota and Dana Branzei* (2023). PCNA recruits cohesin loader Scc2/NIPBL to ensure sister chromatid cohesion.
Nat Struct Mol Biol, 30:1286-1294. doi: 10.1038/s41594-023-01064-x.
Chinnu Rose Joseph, Sabrina Dusi, Michele Giannattasio, and Dana Branzei* (2022). Rad51-mediated replication of damaged templates relies on monoSUMOylated DDK kinase.
Nat Commun 13(1):2480. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-30215-9.
Valeria Dolce, Sabrina Dusi, Michele Giannattasio, Chinnu Rose Joseph, Marco Fumasoni and Dana Branzei* (2022). Parental histone deposition on the replicated strands promotes error-free DNA damage tolerance and regulates drug resistance.
Genes Dev 36:167-179, doi: 10.1101/gad.349207.121.
Ryotaro Kawasumi, Takuya Abe, Ivan Psakhye, Keiji Miyata, Kouji Hirota, and Dana Branzei* (2021). Vertebrate CTF18 and DDX11 essential function in cohesion is bypassed by preventing WAPL-mediated cohesin release.
Genes Dev 35:1368-1382, doi: 10.1101/gad.348581.121.
Ivan Psakhye and Dana Branzei*(2021). SMC complexes are guarded by the SUMO protease Ulp2
against SUMO-chain-mediated turnover.
Cell Reports 36(5):109485.
Sumedha Agashe, Chinnu Rose Joseph, Teresa Anne Clarisse Reyes, Demis Menolfi, Michele Giannattasio, Anja Waizenegger, Barnabas Szakal and Dana Branzei* (2021). Smc5/6 functions with Sgs1-Top3-Rmi1 to complete chromosome replication at natural pause sites.
Nat Commun 12(1):2111, doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22217-w.
Anja Waizenegger, Madhusoodanan Urulangodi, Carl P. Lehmann, Teresa Anne Clarisse Reyes, Irene Saugar, Jose Antonio Tercero, Barnabas Szakal, and Dana Branzei* (2020). Mus81-Mms4 endonuclease is an Esc2-STUbL-Cullin8 mitotic substrate impacting on genome integrity.
Nat Commun 11:5746 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-19503-4.
Ivan Psakhye, Federica Castellucci and Dana Branzei* (2019). SUMO-chain-regulated proteasomal degradation timing exemplified in DNA replication initiation.
Mol Cell 76: 632-645.
Takuya Abe, Ryotaro Kawasumi, Michele Giannattasio, Sabrina Dusi, Yui Yoshimoto, Keiji Miyata, Koyuki Umemura, Kouji Hirota, and Dana Branzei* (2018). AND-1 fork protection function prevents fork resection and is essential for proliferation.
Nat Commun 9: 3091. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-05586-7.
Takuya Abe, Masato Ooka, Ryotaro Kawasumi, Keiji Miyata, Minoru Takata, Kouji Hirota, and Dana Branzei* (2018). Warsaw Breakage Syndrome DDX11 helicase acts jointly with RAD17 in the repair of bulky lesions and replication through abasic sites. Proc Natl Acad Sci pii: 201803110. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1803110115.
Ryotaro Kawasumi, Takuya Abe*, Hiroshi Arakawa, Massimiliano Garre, Kouji Hirota, and Dana Branzei* (2017). ESCO1/2 roles in chromosome structure and interphase chromatin organization.
Genes Dev 31:2136-2150.
Demis Menolfi, Axel Delamarre, Armelle Lengronne, Philippe Pasero and Dana Branzei* (2015). Essential Roles of the Smc5/6 Complex in Replication through Natural Pausing Sites and Endogenous DNA Damage Tolerance.
Mol Cell 60: 835-846.
Madhusoodanan Urulangodi, Marek Sebesta, Demis Menolfi, Barnabas Szakal, Julie Sollier, Alexandra Sisakova, Lumir Krejci, and Dana Branzei* (2015). Local regulation of the Srs2 helicase by the SUMO-like domain protein Esc2 promotes recombination at sites of stalled replication.
Genes Dev 29: 2067-2080.
Marco Fumasoni, Katharina Zwicky, Fabio Vanoli, Massimo Lopes and Dana Branzei* (2015). Error-free DNA damage tolerance and sister chromatid proximity during DNA Replication rely on the Polalpha/Primase/Ctf4 Complex.
Mol Cell 57: 812-823.
Michele Giannattasio, Katharina Zwicky, Cindy Follonier, Marco Foiani, Massimo Lopes, and Dana Branzei* (2014). Visualization of recombination-mediated damage-bypass by template switching.
Nature Struct Mol Biol 21: 884-892.
News
Official Awards Ceremony 2025 Humboldt Professorship for Dr. Dana Branzei
[05.05.2025] At a formal ceremony in Berlin, RAR Professor Dana Branzei received the Alexander von Humboldt Research Professorship from Cem Özdemir, Federal Minister of Research and Education. Along with her, five other recipients were honored with Germany’s most prestigious international research award. Since April 1, 2025, Dana Branzei has headed the Department of Biological and Genomic Treatment Approaches at the Research Center One Health within the Faculty of Biology at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE). Joining her in the celebration was a UDE delegation consisting of Rector Barbara Albert, Chancellor Ulf Richter, Vice Rector for Research Astrid Westendorf, Founding Director of the Research Center One Health Bernd Sures, and Dean of the Faculty of Biology Stefan Westermann.
Cutting-edge research at the Research Alliance Ruhr Dana Branzei Selected for the 2025 Humboldt Professorship at the University of Duisburg-Essen
[13.06.2024] Leading researcher Dana Branzei has been selected by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for the 2025 Humboldt Professorship. The internationally renowned expert in molecular biology is currently conducting research on DNA repair mechanisms at the Research Institute for Molecular Oncology in Milan, thereby contributing to a fundamental understanding of cancer development and therapy. She is set to be appointed to the University of Duisburg-Essen at the Research Center One Health Ruhr of the Research Alliance Ruhr.