# Biology of RNA damage and repair

> **NIH NIH R35** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 2021 · $377,446

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Distinctive 2′-hydroxyl (OH) groups on every ribose make RNA an easy target of some
endonucleases, which damage RNA, creating products with 5′-OH and 2′,3′-cyclic
phosphate termini. Like DNA repair systems that surveil and repair lesions in the
genome to preserve the genetic code, the products of RNA damage are substrates for
coupled end modification and processing steps including ligation, stabilization, and
degradation. However, unlike the DNA damage response, we are only beginning to
understand how RNA cleavage, end modification, and processing are integrated, and
how together the “RNA damage response” promotes RNA processing and orchestrates
regulatory control. In this MIRA, we continue to explore the role of RNA damage and
repair, focusing on 4 specific questions: 1. What are the RNA targets of human kinase-
mediated decay?; 2. Do coupled 3′-end modification and 3′⟶5′ RNA decay control RNA
fate?; 3. What are the targets and physiological roles of bacterial Rtc RNA repair
enzymes? 4. How do 2′-phosphate modifications inhibit exonuclease degradation?

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10193187
- **Project number:** 2R35GM119550-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **Principal Investigator:** Jay R Hesselberth
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $377,446
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2016-08-01 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10193187

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10193187, Biology of RNA damage and repair (2R35GM119550-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10193187. Licensed CC0.

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