Professor Dr. Nynke Dekker

Biography

Nynke Dekker's research group focuses on probing the dynamics of DNA and RNA replication at the single-molecule level, particularly investigating the activity of individual molecular motors engaged in these processes. The long-term goal of her research is to understand how molecular motors collaborate with accessory factors to copy DNA and RNA while overcoming protein obstacles, such as nucleosomes on DNA. This research is highly interdisciplinary, incorporating elements of biochemistry, molecular biology, and biological physics, and addresses crucial biological questions by integrating biochemistry with advanced biophysical techniques, including single-molecule fluorescence and integrated force-fluorescence spectroscopy. The aim is to generate a precise mechanistic description of key biological processes, linking her work to chromatin biology, epigenetics, transcription, and virology.

Research Interests