Human Replication-Coupled DNA Repair
Cells experience tens of thousands of DNA lesions per day that must be repaired to ensure that genetic stability is maintained. These lesions include base damage and strand breaks caused by environmental genotoxins as well as viral insult. The Mehta lab focuses on understanding the replication stress response and the mutagenic consequences of DNA-strand specific obstacles. Our goal is to provide a new context for understanding how endogenous and exogenous/environmental stresses mutagenize DNA and how repair mechanisms maintain faithful replication.