We aim to understand molecular mechanisms of genomic changes that result in DNA quantity changes and how they impact cellular and organismal functions. We particularly focus on studying DNA quantity changes that involve copy number changes of repetitive sequences on the chromosome as well as production and accumulation of extrachromosomal circular DNA in budding yeast and human cells.
Yokoyama M, Sasaki M, Kobayashi T. Spt4 promotes cellular senescence by activating non-coding RNA transcription in ribosomal RNA gene clusters. Cell Rep. 2023 Jan 31;42(1):111944.
Sasaki M, Kobayashi T. Regulatory processes that maintain or alter ribosomal DNA stability during the repair of programmed DNA double-strand breaks. Genes Genet Syst. 2022 Aug 4.
Sasaki M, Kobayashi T. Gel Electrophoresis Analysis of rDNA Instability in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Methods Mol Biol. 2021;2153:403-425.
Sasaki M, Kobayashi T. Ctf4 Prevents Genome Rearrangements by Suppressing DNA Double-Strand Break Formation and Its End Resection at Arrested Replication Forks. Mol Cell. 2017 May 18;66(4):533-545.e5.