Additional date Biological Colloquium with the Department of Chemistry, Prof. Ivano Amelio University of Konstanz

Maintenance of genome integrity is essential for cellular homeostasis and represents a fundamental barrier against malignant transformation. Cells are continuously exposed to endogenous and exogenous sources of DNA damage that threaten the faithful transmission of genetic information. To counter these challenges, networks of DNA damage response pathways coordinate lesion bypass, DNA repair, and cell-cycle control. Failure of these mechanisms promotes genomic instability, a hallmark of cancer and a key driver of tumor evolution.

In this seminar, I will present two recently identified mechanisms that contribute to tumor suppression through distinct aspects of DNA damage tolerance and DNA repair. Operating in different biological contexts, both mechanisms reveal previously unrecognized strategies by which cells preserve genome integrity and limit the accumulation of potentially oncogenic genetic alterations. These findings contribute to our understanding of how cells respond to replication-associated challenges and DNA damage, and how the choice and regulation of genome maintenance pathways influence cellular fitness and transformation.

This work highlights the central role of DNA damage tolerance and repair pathways in safeguarding the genome, suppressing tumor initiation, and constraining cancer progression.