Molecular biology of the cell cycle

The department “Molecular biology of the cell cycle” was founded in 1993. It was headed by professor George Russev until 1996 and since then - by professor Boyka Anachkova. At present the department numbers 2 full professors, 4 postdocs, 5 technicians and 2 laboratory workers. The research in the department is centered on two fundamental and mutually connected scientific problems, i.e. DNA repair and DNA replication. Both are studied in the context of the cell cycle and their regulation by the chromatin structure. A particular focus is given to the epigenetic changes in DNA and histones that define the structure of chromatin and their effects on replication, transcription and recombination of DNA. The aim of our studies is to find ways to increase sensitivity of cancer cells to anticancer drugs, as well as ways to deliver the drugs to the target cells and thus decrease toxicity of anticancer therapy, while increasing its efficiency.