New mechanisms and new models of DNA replication and repair

We are devoted to the functional and biochemical characterization of DNA replication and repair enzymes. For that, we work with diverse biological systems, from very simple ones like bacterial viruses or genetic mobile elements, and also prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Our current efforts are focused in B-family DNA polymerases, in particular in the piPolB subfamily ("primer-independent PolBs), recently reported and characterized in our laboratory. The piPolB group comprises enzymes with unexpected features, like the capacity to initiate DNA replication "de novo", without the requirement of a pre-existing primer. Overall, piPolB holds a great promise for developing novel biotechnological applications. Further reading: https://rnrlab.github.io/