{"id":2269,"date":"2021-04-21T12:06:50","date_gmt":"2021-04-21T10:06:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.embl.org\/events\/?p=2269"},"modified":"2022-09-08T10:07:37","modified_gmt":"2022-09-08T09:07:37","slug":"friend-or-foe-event-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/course-and-conference-office\/2021\/04\/friend-or-foe-event-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Friend or Foe: Transcription and RNA Meet DNA Replication and Repair"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Event Report by Apoorva Baluapuri, University of W\u00fcrzburg, Germany<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

RNA and DNA were first described by the Swiss biologist Friedrich Miescher in 1868. About 150 years later, we stand at crossroads of the two disciplines which have arisen as a result of dedicated research on both molecules. The first EMBL symposium on the connections between transcription and DNA replication\/repair research was a major step forward in combining the progress from wide ranging topics, thus generating a consensus on how gene expression and DNA transactions cooperate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The symposium, which was the second one from EMBL this year,  was scheduled just a day after International Women\u2019s Day, and that aligned very well with the equally represented line-up of speakers and organisers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The titular opening session was dedicated to transcription-associated genomic instability where all aspects of R-loops and ribonucleotide excision repair in transcription coupled DNA double strand break repair were covered. For example, Ga\u00eblle Legube<\/a> (CNRS – University of Toulouse, France)<\/em> expanded in great detail on the influence of DSB-induced chromatin conformation and the strong potential of 3C-based technologies, while Elodie Hatchi (Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA) <\/em>explained about her recent publication<\/a> in Nature <\/em>concerning the impact of BRCA1, RAD52 and PALB2 on small RNA-driven DNA repair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eventually, we switched over to a more translational theme with Rushad Pavri<\/a> (IMP, Vienna, Austria<\/em>) who spoke about the relation between DNA replication timing and frequency of oncogenic translocations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This time around, the poster presentation sessions were equally dynamic with topics being covered from role of RBMX in RNA processing (Sara Luzzi<\/a>, University of Newcastle<\/em>) to role of MYCN in reconciling elevated transcription levels with DNA replication (Dimitrios Papadopoulos, University of W\u00fcrzburg, Germany<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To end the first day, Philippe Pasero<\/a> (CNRS, France<\/em>) tried to answer the old question of the chicken or the egg in terms of toxic R-loops, if they are the cause or consequences of DNA replication stress, while Andrew Deans<\/a> (St. Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research, Australia<\/em>) explained about fork re-modellers as a general mechanism of R-loop removal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second day started out on a high note by a talk on the consequences of DNA damage and heat shock on Pol II from Jesper Svejstrup<\/a>. Prof Svejstrup recently moved his lab from the Francis Crick Institute in London to the University of Copenhagen (Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To make things even more exciting at the symposium, Martin Eilers<\/a> (University of W\u00fcrzburg, Germany<\/em>) spoke about conflict resolution by MYCN between “friends and foes”, i.e. Pol II and replication fork. This was followed by talk by Marco Foiani<\/a> (University of Milan, Italy<\/em>) who showed the role of ATR in nuclear integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In between the breaks, the participants eagerly shared their setup of how they were joining the virtual conference:<\/p>\n\n\n

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Getting ready. pic.twitter.com\/pDYkBkUGil<\/a><\/p>\n

— Theresa Endres (@30xte) March 9, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n