Ci Ji Lim, Ph.D.

Research

The Lim lab is investigating the structure of human telomeres—the protective caps made of DNA and protein that safeguard the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. Telomeres are crucial for maintaining chromosome integrity and stability. Deregulation in telomere length or function contributes to aging and diseases, including cancer. Despite their importance, little is known about how telomeric proteins assemble at telomeres and regulate chromatin structure. This knowledge gap is largely due to the challenges posed by the highly repetitive DNA sequences unique to telomeres, which complicate mapping the telomere chromatin. Using innovative techniques in biochemistry, biophysics, and molecular engineering, I aim to map the molecular landscape of telomere chromatin in human cells. This research will explore how telomeric proteins are distributed along the DNA, how this distribution changes during cell division, and how these dynamic interactions affect telomere chromatin structure and function. My research could lead to new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for telomere-related diseases and facilitate the exploration of chromatin structures in other repetitive DNA regions—often referred to as the “dark matter” that comprises half of the human genome.