Dana Branzei Lab

Dana Branzei

Molecular biologist Dana Branzei researches mechanisms of DNA repair and replication stress tolerance that operate in eukaryotic cells, and how they impact on chromosome structure. At a young age Dana, as well as members of the scientific community, discovered her talent for science. read more

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DNA Repair

Accurate chromosomal DNA replication is fundamental for cellular function and genome integrity. In response to replication perturbations, DNA damage response and DNA damage tolerance pathways become activated and are crucial for detection and tolerance of lesions, which impact on replication completion and genome integrity. read more

Laboratory location: Milan, Italy

Recent publications

Psakhye I, Kawasumi R, Abe T, Hirota K, Branzei D.
PCNA recruits cohesin loader Scc2 to ensure sister chromatid cohesion.
Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2023 Aug 17. doi: 10.1038/s41594-023-01064-x. Online ahead of print. PMID: 37592094
Joseph CR, Dusi S, Giannattasio M, Branzei D.
Rad51-mediated replication of damaged templates relies on monoSUMOylated DDK kinase.
Nat Commun. 2022 May 5;13(1):2480. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-30215-9. PMID: 35513396; PMCID: PMC9072374.
Dolce V, Dusi S, Giannattasio M, Joseph CR, Fumasoni M, Branzei D.
Parental histone deposition on the replicated strands promotes error-free DNA damage tolerance and regulates drug resistance
Genes Dev. 2022 Feb 1;36(3-4):167-179. doi: 10.1101/gad.349207.121. Epub 2022 Feb 3. PMID: 35115379; PMCID: PMC8887126.
Kannan A, Cuartas J, Gangwani P, Branzei D, Gangwani L.
Mutation in senataxin alters the mechanism of R-loop resolution in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 4
Brain. 2022 Sep 14;145(9):3072-3094. doi: 10.1093/brain/awab464. PMID: 35045161; PMCID: PMC9536298.
Humphreys IR, Pei J, Baek M, Krishnakumar A, Anishchenko I, Ovchinnikov S, Zhang J, Ness TJ, Banjade S, Bagde SR, Stancheva VG, Li XH, Liu K, Zheng Z, Barrero DJ, Roy U, Kuper J, Fernández IS, Szakal B, Branzei D, Rizo J, Kisker C, Greene EC, Biggins S, Keeney S, Miller EA, Fromme JC, Hendrickson TL, Cong Q, Baker D.
Computed structures of core eukaryotic protein complexes.
Science. 2021 Dec 10;374(6573):eabm4805. doi: 10.1126/science.abm4805. Epub 2021 Dec 10. PMID: 34762488; PMCID: PMC7612107.
Kawasumi R, Abe T, Psakhye I, Miyata K, Hirota K, Branzei D.
Vertebrate CTF18 and DDX11 essential function in cohesion is bypassed by preventing WAPL-mediated cohesin release.
Genes Dev. 2021 Oct 1;35(19-20):1368-1382. doi:10.1101/gad.348581.121. Epub 2021 Sep 9. PMID: 34503989; PMCID: PMC8494208.
Psakhye I, Branzei D.
SMC complexes are guarded by the SUMO protease Ulp2 against SUMO-chain-mediated turnover.
Cell Rep. 2021 Aug 3;36(5):109485. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109485. PMID: 34348159.
Branzei D, Szakal B.
DNA helicases in homologous recombination repair
Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2021 Dec;71:27-33. doi: 10.1016/j.gde.2021.06.009. Epub 2021 Jul 14. PMID: 34271541.
Jegadesan NK, Branzei D.
DDX11 loss causes replication stress and pharmacologically exploitable DNA repair defects
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 Apr 27;118(17):e2024258118. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2024258118. PMID: 33879618; PMCID: PMC8092582.
Agashe S, Joseph CR, Reyes TAC, Menolfi D, Giannattasio M, Waizenegger A, Szakal B, Branzei D.
Smc5/6 functions with Sgs1-Top3-Rmi1 to complete chromosome replication at natural pause sites.
Nat Commun. 2021 Apr 8;12(1):2111. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-22217-w. PMID: 33833229; PMCID: PMC8032827.

Complete List PubMed Google Scholar

Group members

Staff Scientist

Szakal Barnabas

Post doc

Bene Szabolcs
Hosen Md Bayejid
Nunomiya Aki

Phd Student OPEN

Keskin Ezgi Gül
Sheth Dhruv Rajendrakumar

Phd Student SEMM

Virciglio Alice

Technician

Rosato Martina

Temporary Fellow

Mondal Amrita

Former Lab members

Psakhye Ivan (postdoc)
Mastrodonato Valeria (postdoc)
Waizenegger Anja (postdoc)
Morea Alessandro (PhD student)
Jegadesan Nanda Kumar (PhD student)
Agashe Sumesdha (PhD student)
Joseph Chinnu Rose (PhD student)
Dolce Valeria (PhD student)
Kawasumi Ryotaro (postdoc)
Villa Matteo (postdoc)
Menolfi Demis (Master student, PhD student, postdoc)
Fumasoni Marco (Master student, PhD student, postdoc)
Castellucci Federica (PhD student, postdoc)
Era Saho (PhD student)
Abe Takuya (postdoc)
Urulangodi Madhusoodanan (postdoc)
Gonzalez-Huici Victor (postdoc)
Sebesta Marek (postdoc)
Vanoli Fabio (postdoc)
Sollier Julie (postdoc)
Rajakumara Eerappa (postdoc)
Provitera Livia (postdoc)
Reyes Teresa Anne Clarisse (Master student)
Toia Beatrice (Master student)
Mayer Alexandra (postdoc)
Rossi Francesco (PhD student, postdoc)

(update: Jan 2026)