Research in my lab centres on the contributions of two posttranslational protein modifiers, ubiquitin and SUMO, to DNA replication, repair and genome stability. We focus in particular on DNA damage bypass, a system that allows genome replication in the presence of DNA-damaging agents. This pathway helps cells resist genotoxic agents, but also has the potential to cause genome instability and must be tightly regulated.

Regulation of DNA damage bypass in eukaryotic cells is achieved by posttranslational modification of the replication factor PCNA with monoubiquitin, polyubiquitin or SUMO. We are investigating how ubiquitin and SUMO modulate PCNA to initiate damage bypass, what cellular signals determine the balance between the different modifications, and how DNA damage bypass pathway is coordinated with genome replication and the overall cellular DNA damage response.

Research website

Positions held

2018-2019: Executive Director, IMB, Mainz
Since 2013: Scientific Director, Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz; Professor, Faculty of Biology, University of Mainz
2004-2012: Group Leader, Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, Clare Hall Laboratories
2000-2004: Group Leader, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg
1998-2000: Postdoc, Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Martinsried
1997-1998: Postdoc, University of Heidelberg

Education

2004: Habilitation, Faculty of Biology (Genetics), Philipps University Marburg
1996: PhD in Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley
1992: Diploma in Biology, Georg-August-University Göttingen