GDSC Seminar by: Fernando Gómez-Herreros, PhD. Associate Professor in Genetics, University of Sevilla. Group leader, Institute of Biomedicine of Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.

Abstract: DNA topoisomerases are essential enzymes that transiently break DNA strands to resolve torsional stress during critical cellular processes. However, abortive catalytic cycles of these enzymes can lead to persistent DNA lesions, including single- and double-strand breaks, which represent a major threat to genomic integrity. Emerging evidence reveals that gene expression is a major context in which topoisomerase-induced DNA damage occurs. These lesions, if not accurately repaired, can drive genome instability, chromosomal rearrangements, and cell death. Our studies collectively characterize the cellular response to topoisomerase-induced DNA breaks, identify key repair factors, and highlight the broader implications of these breaks in neurodegeneration, cancer development, and the therapeutic response to chemotherapy. Our work underscores the dual role of topoisomerases in both maintaining and threatening genome stability during gene expression. 

By: Paula Amiet-West
Last updated: Wednesday, 19 November 2025