Dr Janna Luessing
Senior Researcher
Hosted by Noel Lowndes
SFI-IRC Pathway Programme
janna.luessing@universityofgalway.ie

Research interests

  • Understanding the roles for Zinc finger proteins in DNA repair
  • Elucidating the functions of PIK kinases in cytokinesis
  • Characterise novel, naturally occurring ATR mutations

Research overview

Mutations caused by damage to our genetic material can result in genome instability. These mutations can either be silent and inconsequential or they can lead to cell death or uncontrolled cell growth that is a characteristic of cancer. Our research aims to gain further insights into how cells maintain their genetic stability. Specifically, the focus of my research is to elucidate novel functions for two Zinc finger proteins in DNA repair. These proteins have been previously implicated in intellectual disability and viral infection.

Selected Figures

Localisation of active ATR throughout the cell cycle. Acitve ATR localises to nuclear speckles in interphase, to centrosomes in mitosis and to the midbody in cytokinesis [Source].
U2OS cells stained with a-53BP1 antibody, EdU Click-IT and DAPI to demonstrate that KIF18B is required for 53BP1 recruitment/retention throughout the cell cycle [Source].
PCR and sequencing of part of the ATR cDNA from patient cells to show exon 18 and exon 28 skipping [Source].

Keywords

DNA repair, ATR, Zinc-finger proteins, abscission

Lab Members

Áine Murphy (PhD)

Key Research Techniques

  • Cell culture
  • Microscopy
  • Protein Biochemistry and Proteomics
  • Genome editing and Genomics

Selected publications

Most Recent Publications

Quick Links

University Profile

PubMed

Google Scholar

Get in Touch!

janna.luessing@universityofgalway.ie