Many RNA binding proteins (RBPs) are suggested to function in DNA damage pathways. Two such proteins we study in the lab are TCOF1 and NOL12. NOL12 is a highly conserved RBP with putative nuclease function. It has been identified in mice (Nop25), flies (viriato), and yeast (Rrp17) as protein involved in ribosome biogenesis and nucleolar integrity. In human cells, loss of NOL12 also induces DNA damage response pathways via ATR signalling, suggesting that NOL12 may also play an important role in DNA metabolism. Currently, we are investigating the role of NOL12 in nucleolar genome integrity and the maintenance of ribosomal DNA, a highly repetitive and highly transcribed locus.

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