To ensure growth, tissue maintenance, and reproduction, cells must replicate their genome and pass this genetic information to new cells. Molecular machines regulate each replication stage and correct errors to maintain fidelity. Our lab studies Replication Protein A (RPA), a key protein that binds single-stranded DNA during replication. RPA regulates DNA polymerases and interacts with DNA repair enzymes. We aim to uncover how RPA orchestrates these processes to maintain genome integrity during replication.

 Telomeres are protective structures at chromosome ends that shorten each time a cell divides, due to an inability of the replication machinery to fully replicate to the ends of linear chromosomes. The enzyme telomerase counteracts this shortening, and failure to maintain telomere length ultimately resulting in cellular senescence or cell death. Mutations in telomere-length regulation genes cause severe degenerative disease in humans. Our lab investigates how single-stranded DNA-binding proteins regulate telomere replication and telomerase activity.