UFM1 signaling in DNA damage response and cancer therapy

Project Narrative Defective DNA damage response pathway is linked to tumorigenesis. Therefore, understanding the DNA damage response pathway will help us understand how cancer arises and how to prevent it. In addition, given that many cancer therapies involve DNA damage-inducing agent, a detailed understanding of the DNA damage response pathway and its defects in cancer cells will help us to design targeted therapy for specific cancers. We recently identified Ufm1, a ubiquitin-like protein, is a key player in the DNA damage response, and we will study how Ufm1 signaling affects the DNA damage response and prostate cancer thearpy.