Joanna Loizou

DNA repair and genomic stability

The human genome is constantly exposed to endogenous and exogenous sources of DNA damage. DNA repair ensures the integrity of large eukaryotic genomes by minimising the mutation rate. We are interested in exploring the several highly effective pathways for DNA repair that have distinct specificities, and are evolutionary conserved despite partial redundancies. While somatic defects in DNA repair genes contribute to cancer and other severe diseases, germline mutations in relevant DNA repair genes cause specific deficiencies which are the underlying cause for a family of rare diseases. We are investigating the genetic interactions of the intricate crosstalk between DNA damage and repair mechanisms with the ultimate goal that this may pave the way to rational therapeutic approaches.

Consequences of DNA damage and repair on genomic mutation signatures

The compilation of somatic mutations is the outcome of one or more mutational processes that have been operative due to DNA damage and repair processes. The resulting mutational signature is determined by the intensity and duration of exposure to each mutational process. We seek to systematically map the contribution of various DNA damage and repair processes to the generation of mutation signatures hence deciphering the contribution of genetic and environmental sources to genome stability.

Synthetic lethal and viable interactions

Complex interactions between different genes have been a focus of genetic research on model organisms for decades. The concepts of synthetic lethality and synthetic viability have been extensively explored because defects in a specific cellular pathway may (de)sensitize cells for the loss of another. Using genome-scale approaches, including CRISPR screens, we aim to identify new therapeutic targets, at scale, to ameliorate pathologies. Our hypothesis is that through the exploration of genetic, proteomic and chemical space will identify novel regulatory pathways for DNA repair.

Repair of CRISPR-Cas9 generated DNA breaks

Repair of DNA double-strand breaks is thought to occur mainly via two major pathways: error-prone non-homologous and joining (NHEJ) and error-free homologous recombination (HR). An enzyme that generates DNA double strand breaks, and is extensively used to promote gene editing, is Cas9. While large efforts have gone into the utilization of CRISPR-Cas9 for gene editing purposes, comparatively little advancement has been made with regard to the cellular mechanisms by which DNA lesions generated by Cas9 are dealt with. We are interested in understanding the contribution of DNA repair pathways to the resolution of DNA double-strand breaks generated by different versions of Cas9.

The successful implementation of the above outlined research proposal will constitute a significant contribution to the field of DNA repair and the diseases caused by defects in these pathways.  

Biosketch

Joanna Loizou joined CeMM in 2011 and moved to the Medical University in 2020 where she remains a CeMM Adjunct PI. She completed her undergraduate studies in the UK, moving there from Cyprus. Subsequently, she commenced PhD work at the University of Manchester  UK, investigating mechanisms of DNA repair. Postdoctoral work followed at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), WHO, France and the London Research Institute (LRI), Cancer Research UK (CR-UK). Joanna’s group investigates the mechanisms by which cells respond to — and repair— DNA damage to maintain genomic stability and suppress tumorigenesis  and other rare hereditary diseases. In 2020, she received an ERC Synergy Grant. Joanna was awarded the Johann Wilhelm Ritter von Mannagetta Prize for Medicine by the Austrian Academy of Sciences in 2020.

Selected Papers

Owusu M, Bannauer P, Ferreira da Silva J, Mourikis TP, Jones A, Májek P, Caldera M, Wiedner M, Lardeau CH, Mueller AC, Menche J, Kubicek S, Ciccarelli FD, Loizou JI. Mapping the Human Kinome in Response to DNA Damage. Cell Rep. 2019 Jan 15;26(3):555-563.e6. (abstract)

Velimezi G, Robinson-Garcia L, Muñoz-Martínez F, Wiegant WW, Ferreira da Silva J, Owusu M, Moder M, Wiedner M, Rosenthal SB, Fisch KM, Moffat J, Menche J, van Attikum H, Jackson SP, Loizou JI. Map of synthetic rescue interactions for the Fanconi anemia DNA repair pathway identifies USP48. Nat Commun. 2018 Jun 11;9(1):2280.(abstract)

Zou X, Owusu M, Harris R, Jackson SP, Loizou JI, Nik-Zainal S. Validating the concept of mutational signatures with isogenic cell models. Nat Commun. 2018 May 1;9(1):1744. (abstract)

Mazouzi A, Battistini F, Moser SC, Ferreira da Silva J, Wiedner M, Owusu M, Lardeau CH, Ringler A, Weil B, Neesen J, Orozco M, Kubicek S, Loizou JI. Repair of UV-Induced DNA Damage Independent of Nucleotide Excision Repair Is Masked by MUTYH. Mol Cell. 2017 Nov 16;68(4):797-807.e7. (abstract)

Moder M, Velimezi G, Owusu M, Mazouzi A, Wiedner M, Ferreira da Silva J, Robinson-Garcia L, Schischlik F, Slavkovsky R, Kralovics R, Schuster M, Bock C, Ideker T, Jackson SP, Menche J, Loizou JI. Parallel genome-wide screens identify synthetic viable interactions between the BLM helicase complex and Fanconi anemia. Nat Commun. 2017 Nov 1;8(1):1238. (abstract)

Loizou JI, Sancho R, Kanu N, Bolland DJ, Yang F, Rada C, Corcoran AE, Behrens A. ATMIN is required for maintenance of genomic stability and suppression of B cell lymphoma. Cancer Cell. 2011 May 17;19(5):587-600. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2011.03.022. (abstract)

Murr R, Loizou JI, Yang YG, Cuenin C, Li H, Wang ZQ, Herceg Z. Histone acetylation by Trrap-Tip60 modulates loading of repair proteins and repair of DNA double-strand breaks. Nat Cell Biol. 2006 Jan;8(1):91-9. (abstract)

Loizou JI, El-Khamisy SF, Zlatanou A, Moore DJ, Chan DW, Qin J, Sarno S, Meggio F, Pinna LA, Caldecott KW. The protein kinase CK2 facilitates repair of chromosomal DNA single-strand breaks. Cell. 2004 Apr 2;117(1):17-28. (abstract)