Project information
RAD60 - a new player in the maintenance of genome stability in plants (working title) (RAD60)

Genome stability is maintained via a network of DNA damage response (DDR) proteins orchestrated by specific signal molecules and post-translational modifications. The attachment of a Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier (SUMO) protein to the target proteins is important for DDR signaling. Here, we propose a project focusing on the functional characterization of a newly discovered plant homolog of the RENI family protein RAD60. RENI proteins contain tandemly organized SUMO-like domains and, in conjunction with interacting proteins, stimulate SUMOylation during DDR. Interestingly, plant RAD60 has only a single SUMO-like domain and a unique N-terminus. In this project, the teams led by A. Pečinka (IEB) and Jan Paleček (MU) will cooperatively (i) anchor the Arabidopsis RAD60 in the plant DDR pathways, (ii) study its role in preventing genome instability, (iii) identify interaction partners and (iv) assess its SUMOylation activity in the context of plant DDR. The results of this project will greatly improve functional understanding of the role of SUMOylation in the plant DDR.