Research Programme Our main research focus is understanding how the replisome, the molecular machinery that copies DNA, forms and moves along DNA. We and others previously established that a metazoan-specific gene, DONSON, is essential for the initiation of vertebrate DNA replication and for development. We now aim to establish DONSON’s cellular and molecular mechanism in replication fork progression: Inspired by whole-genome genetic screens, we hypothesize that 3D genome architecture is disruptive to DNA replication, and DONSON plays a critical role coordinating replisome progression with high-order nuclear organization. The focus of our MRC-funded programme is to understand how ongoing replication forks deal with chromatin proteins, and the molecular mechanisms by which DONSON ensures fast replication fork progression. This article was published on 2026-01-16
