Cellular function and degradation mechanisms of TRIM52

Through evolution, humans and other higher primates have gained means to support their increasingly complex bodies. An important aspect of this is to protect their genetic material from damage during cell duplication. Full elucidation of the human genetic code, has allowed scientists to identify factors that have been developing rapidly in human evolution, and as such may have important functions in regulating human-specific functions. One of these rapidly evolving factors is named TRIM52. We discovered that TRIM52 makes sure that human genetic material -DNA- is replicated correctly, and that cells in which TRIM52 is experimentally removed, can no longer multiply correctly. Interestingly, we found that while cells constantly produce TRIM52, it gets almost immediately degraded. This has raised the question as to why cells spend a lot of energy producing something that gets almost immediately degraded. This project aims to identify the specific cellular pathways that help replicate our DNA, that are controlled by TRIM52, and how. Moreover, the project aims to elucidate how cells rapidly degrade TRIM52, and why this is important for its cellular function. In the long term, results from this s tudy will contribute to our understanding of the strategies that have evolved in humans to support our complex bodies, systems that prevent damage to our genetic material, and consequently prevent cancer.