Determination of how APE1 protects the digestive tract from DNA damage initiated by commensal bacteria

Our project focuses on apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (APE1), a multifunctional protein that regulates stress induced by carcinogenic infections. We developed a hypomorphic (HM) mouse that has facilitated studies of APE1 function throughout the body. The major finding is that the digestive tract is particularly susceptible to DNA damage when APE1 is compromised. The broad objective of this grant is to define how APE1 protects the digestive tract from DNA damage initiated by comensal bacteria