Knipscheer: Genome Maintenance

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The Knipscheer group studies molecular mechanisms of DNA replication and repair.

Cellular processes that maintain the integrity of our genome are crucial to prevent genetic diseases such as cancer. The main interest of our laboratory is to decipher the molecular details of these processes. Currently, we focus on understanding how toxic DNA lesions, called interstrand crosslinks (ICLs), are repaired, and how stable secondary DNA structures (G-quadruplexes) are resolved. We study these processes in the context of active DNA replication and make use of Xenopus egg extracts that support highly regulated vertebrate DNA replication in vitro. In this experimental system, we can recapitulate both ICL repair and G-quadruplex replication in a test tube, allowing us to gain insights in their molecular mechanisms.

Selected publicationsView all publications

Alcohol-derived DNA interstrand crosslinks are repaired by two distinct mechanisms.

Hodskinson MR*, Bolner A*, Sato K, […] Kind J, Chin J, Patel KJ#, Knipscheer P#

Nature. 579(7800):603-608

Download|2020

HSF2BP Negatively Regulates Homologous Recombination in DNA Interstrand Crosslink Repair.

Sato K*, Brandsma I*, van Rossum-Fikkert SE, […] Knipscheer P#, Kanaar R#, Zelensky AN#

Nucleic Acid Research. 48(5);2442-2456

Download|2020

Nucleic Acid Research. 18;47(5):2377-2388

Download|2020

EMBO J. 36(14):2034-2046

Download|2017

FANCJ promotes DNA synthesis through G-quadruplex structures.

Castillo Bosch P, Segura-Bayona S, […] Tijsterman M#, Knipscheer P#

EMBO J. 33(21):2521-33

Download|2014

Mol Cell. 54(3):460-71

Download|2014

HSF2BP Interacts with a Conserved Domain of BRCA2 and Is Required for Mouse Spermatogenesis.

Brandsma I, Sato K, […] Knipscheer P#, Kanaar R#, Zelensky AN#

Cell Reports. 25;27(13):3790-3798

Download|2019

Dev Biol. 428(2):300-309

Download|2017

Methods Mol Biol. 920:221-43

Download|2012

Science. 326:1698-1701

Download|2009

Mechanism of replication-coupled DNA interstrand crosslink repair.

Räschle M, Knipscheer P, […] Schärer OD, Walter JC

Cell. 134:969-980

Download|2008

Group leader

Puck Knipscheer

Puck Knipscheer is group leader at the Hubrecht Institute, professor by special appointment of Biochemistry of Genome maintenance at the Leiden University Medical Center and Oncode Investigator. Her group studies how toxic DNA lesions, called DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs), are repaired and how secondary DNA structures (G-quadruplexes) are resolved. These processes are important to maintain the integrity of our genome which is crucial to prevent genetic diseases such as cancer.  The Knipscheer group studies these processes during active DNA replication in Xenopus egg extracts. These extracts recapitulate both processes under physiological conditions, which enables them to study the molecular details of these important pathways.

Scientific training and positions

Awards


Group members

Puck Knipscheer

Group Leader

Alexander Verkennis

Technician

Diana Braat

Technician

Koichi Sato

Postdoc

Roxanne van der Sluijs

PhD Student

Themistoklis Liolios

PhD Student

Lars ter Morsche

PhD Student

Victoria Cruz

researcher

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Job openings

PostDoc - 38 hours p/w

Research group

Knipscheer group

Start date

01/05/2024

Location

Utrecht Science Park

PhD student - Group Knipscheer/Mattiroli - 38 hours p/w

Research group

Knipscheer group

Start date

01/05/2024

Location

Utrecht Science Park

PhD student - 38 hours p/w

Research group

Knipscheer group

Start date

01/05/2024

Location

Utrecht Science Park

Research Technician - 36/38 hours p/w

Research group

Knipscheer group

Start date

01/05/2024

Location

Utrecht Science Park