Ochs Group
The aim of the laboratory is to decipher the molecular interplay of DNA repair and 3D chromatin organization, and to understand how dysregulation of 3D chromatin organization leads to genome instability and cancer. We develop and apply cutting-edge super-resolution microscopy technology for single molecule imaging in intact cell and tissue samples, with the ambition that our findings may contribute to the development of new clinical treatment strategies.
DNA repair and 3D chromatin organization need to be tightly coordinated to maintain genome stability. Accordingly, disruption of either of these processes predisposes patients to cancer. To enable development of effective anti-cancer treatments and use DNA repair and chromatin organizer proteins as successful biomarkers, it is therefore critical to conclusively determine the relationship between the DNA Damage Response and chromatin organization.
Our laboratory employs cutting-edge super-resolution imaging technologies and multi-omics to unravel how dysregulation of 3D chromatin organization leads to development and progression of cancer and developmental diseases. Our research focuses on understanding the role of chromatin topology in genome stability, the molecular characterization of tumour suppressor genes and the identification of clinical opportunities by exploiting the relationship of 3D chromatin organization and DNA repair.
Our laboratory works in a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary manner at the interface of biology, physics and medical sciences. We continuously develop and apply cutting-edge microscopy and AI-based data analysis approaches for single molecule imaging in the 3D chromatin space of cells and tissues.
We are a new group at UCPH BRIC and are looking for motivated and talented candidates from all of the above-mentioned disciplines.
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The role of 3D chromatin topology in genome stability
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Molecular mechanisms of SMC complexes in DNA repair
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3D chromatin functions of tumour suppressor proteins
- Ochs, F., Green, C., Szczurek, A.T., Pytowski, L., Kolesnikova, S., Brown, J., Gerlich, D.W., Buckle, V., Schermelleh, L., Nasmyth, K.A. Sister chromatid cohesion is mediated by individual cohesin complexes. Science 383 (6687), 1122-1130 (2024). PMID: 38452070. Open access: https://www.science.org/stoken/author-tokens/ST-1749/full
- Groelly, F. J., Dagg, R. A., Petropoulos, M., Rossetti, G. G., Prasad, B., Panagopoulos, A., Paulsen, T., Karamichali, A., Jones, S. E., Ochs, F., Dionellis, V. S., Puig Lombardi, E., Miossec, M. J., Lockstone, H., Legube, G., Blackford, A. N., Altmeyer, M., Halazonetis, T. D. & Tarsounas, M. Mitotic DNA synthesis is caused by transcription-replication conflicts in BRCA2-deficient cells. Molecular Cell 82, 1-16 (2022). PMID: 36002001
- Ercilla, A., Benada, J., Amitash, S., Zonderland, G., Baldi, G., Somyajit, K., Ochs, F., Constanzo, V., Lukas, J. & Toledo, L. Physiological tolerance to ssDNA enables strand uncoupling during DNA replication. Cell Reports 30 (7), 2416-2429 (2020). PMID: 32075739
- Ochs, F., Karemore, G., Miron, E., Brown, J., Sedlackova, H., Rask, M.-B., Lampe, M., Buckle, V., Schermelleh, L., Lukas, J. & Lukas, C. Stabilization of chromatin topology safeguards genome integrity. Nature 574, 571-574 (2019). PMID: 31645724
- Somyajit, K., Gupta, R., Sedlackova, H., Neelsen, K.J., Ochs, F., Rask, M.-B., Choudhary, C. & Lukas, J. Redox-sensitive alteration of replisome architecture safeguards genome integrity. Science 358 (6364), 797-802 (2017). PMID: 29123070
- Sotiriou, S. K., Kamileri, I., Lugli, N., Evangelou, K., Da-Ré, C., Huber, F., Padayachy, L., Tardy, S., Nicati, N. L., Barriot, S., Ochs, F., Lukas, C., Lukas, J., Gorgoulis, V. G., Scapozza, L. & Halazonetis, T. D. Mammalian RAD52 functions in break-induced replication repair of collapsed DNA replication forks. Molecular Cell 46 (6), 1127-1134 (2016). PMID: PMC5179496
- Ochs, F., Somyajit, K., Altmeyer, M., Rask, M.-B., Lukas, J. & Lukas, C. 53BP1 fosters fidelity of homology-directed DNA repair. Nature Structural and Molecular Biology 23 (8), 714-721 (2016). PMID: 27348077
Secrets of cell division revealed by cutting-edge imaging technique
08 March 2024, on bric.ku.dk
BRIC Pioneers Advanced Imaging Technology in Denmark
23 February 2024, on bric.ku.dk
Denmark funds BRIC cancer research projects
17 November 2023, on bric.ku.dk
Illuminating the Cellular World - A Portrait of New Group Leader Fena Ochs
7 June 2023, on bric.ku.dk
