Erik Johansson

Erik Johansson is a Professor and Head of the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics at Umeå University. His research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of DNA replication, particularly the role of DNA polymerase epsilon (Pol ε) in leading-strand synthesis, genome stability, and cancer-associated mutations. His work combines structural biology, enzymology, and genetic approaches to elucidate how Pol ε ensures high-fidelity DNA replication and prevents genomic instability.

Research Interests:
- DNA replication fidelity and error correction
- Structural and functional analysis of DNA polymerases
- Cancer-associated mutations in replication machinery
- Mitochondrial DNA instability
- Regulation of histone segregation during replication

Key Findings:
- Pol ε's proofreading domain mutations drive cancer through replication errors.
- Fe-S clusters in Pol ε modulate enzymatic activity and redox signaling.
- Nicks in DNA can trigger localized re-replication, promoting genomic instability.

Selected Awards: None explicitly stated in the text.

Lab & Collaborations:
The Erik Johansson Lab at Umeå University investigates how eukaryotic cells replicate DNA with high accuracy. Current projects include studying Pol ε's role in leading-strand synthesis, structural consequences of cancer mutations, and mechanisms preventing genome re-replication from DNA nicks.