# Chemical Biology of DNA and RNA Alkylation

> **NIH NIH R35** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE · 2020 · $933,000

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
 Alkylating agents are ubiquitously present in the environment, and they can alkylate DNA and RNA directly
or after metabolic activation. The focus of the present R35 application is placed on the chemistry and biology of
DNA and RNA alkylation, with the overarching goal of understanding the molecular mechanisms through which
alkylating agents and other environmental chemicals exert their adverse human health effects. In particular, we
will examine the roles of translesion synthesis DNA polymerases in the transcriptional bypass of DNA lesions in
cultured human cells, identify DNA damage recognition proteins for alkylated DNA lesions, and investigate their
roles in DNA damage response signaling and repair. We will also assess the implications of RNA methylation in
the molecular pathology of trinucleotide repeat expansion diseases. The proposed research is a culmination of
our established expertise in the areas of DNA damage and repair, proteomics and epitranscriptomics.
Completion of the proposed research will lead to an unprecedented level of understanding about the human
health consequences of exposure to alkylating agents and other environmental toxicants, and will ultimately
result in approaches for the prevention and mitigation of adverse human health consequences arising from
environmental exposure.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9962091
- **Project number:** 1R35ES031707-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE
- **Principal Investigator:** Yinsheng Wang
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $933,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-06-12 → 2028-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9962091

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9962091, Chemical Biology of DNA and RNA Alkylation (1R35ES031707-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9962091. Licensed CC0.

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