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Home > Research Leaders > N to S > Kelly Nguyen
Kelly Nguyen ss

Kelly Nguyen

Molecular mechanism of telomere maintenance and the roles of telomeres in human diseases

knguyen@mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk
Personal group site

The ends of linear eukaryotic chromosomes are capped telomeres, an array of long telomeric repeat tracts ([TTAGGG]nin human) bound by telomeric protein factors. Telomeres distinguish natural chromosomal ends from DNA breaks and thereby protect chromosomes against degradation and interchromosomal fusion. Each cell division results in the loss of a small portion of telomeres as a consequence of incomplete genome replication. Critically short telomeres lose their end-protection capability, resulting in genome instability, proliferative senescence or cell death. Therefore, telomere length is often regarded as a “cellular aging clock” and telomere maintenance is essential for genome integrity. Telomere dysfunction has been linked to cancers and premature aging syndromes such as dyskeratosis congenita, aplastic anemia, and pulmonary fibrosis in human patients.

Cover artwork for Kelly Nguyen

We developed biochemical methods to reconstitute human telomerase holoenzyme, a large ribonucleoprotein that compensates for telomere shortening by synthesizing the 3’ telomeric DNA repeats, and determined its cryo-EM structure at medium resolution. The structure settled the longstanding question regarding its composition and gave unprecedented insight into its assembly.

We are studying telomerase regulation at telomeres and other processes involved in telomere maintenance beyond telomerase. We employ an integrated structural biology approach with a focus on biochemistry, cryo-electron microscopy and in vivo studies in mammalian cells. Ultimately, our aim is to uncover how mutations in human patients result in telomere dysfunction, which will be essential for telomere-based therapeutics.

Selected Papers

  • Nguyen THD, Tam J, Wu RA, Greber BG, Toso D, Nogales E, Collins K. (2018)
    Cryo-EM structure of substrate-bound human telomerase holoenzyme.
    Nature 557: 190-195.
  • Nguyen THD, Galej WP, Bai X.-C., Oubridge C, Newman AJ, Scheres SHW, Nagai K. (2016)
    CryoEM structure of the yeast U4/U6.U5 tri-snRNP at 3.7 Å resolution.
    Nature 530: 298-302.
  • Nguyen THD, Galej WP, Bai X.-C, Savva CG, Newman AJ, Scheres SHW, Nagai K. (2015)
    The architecture of the spliceosomal U4/U6.U5 tri-snRNP.
    Nature 523: 47-52.
  • Nguyen THD, Li J, Galej WP, Oshikane H, Newman AJ, Nagai K. (2013)
    Structural basis of Brr2-Prp8 interactions and implications for U5 snRNP biogenesis and the spliceosome active site.
    Structure 21: 910-919.

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  • Adam Fountain
  • George Ghanim
  • Zala Sekne
  • Marike van Roon

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