Analysis of DNA Sequence Recognition by Enzymes

总体目标是了解DNA结合蛋白序列识别的结构基础。这些研究主要集中在细菌的II型限制性修饰系统，特别是先前从Proteus vulgaris中克隆的Pvu II系统。四种识别包含Pvu II蛋白的相同DNA序列的蛋白质将被表征和比较。这种比较将是结构和功能两方面的，旨在表明识别共同碱基序列的功能相关蛋白显示结构同源性的程度。蛋白质对特定DNA序列的识别对许多细胞过程至关重要，如果不了解这种识别的基础，就不可能对细胞生理学有成熟的了解。这些过程包括RNA聚合酶对启动子的选择、抑制因子、激活因子、增强子调节、基因重组和转位以及靶向DNA修复。布卢门撒尔博士在这里所描述的工作中训练有素。

The overall goal is to understand the structural basis of sequence recognition by DNA binding proteins. These studies have centered on the type II restriction-modification systems of bacteria, and in particular on the Pvu II system that was previously cloned from Proteus vulgaris. Four proteins that recognize the same DNA sequence which includes the Pvu II proteins will be characterized and compared. This comparison will be both structural and functional, and is intended to indicate the extent to which functionally-related proteins recognizing a common base sequences show structural homologies. The recognition of specific DNA sequences by proteins is so crucial to so many cellular processes that no mature understanding of cell physiology will be possible without understanding the basis of this recognition. These processes include promoter selection by RNA polymerases, the action of repressors, activators, enhancer-modulation, genetic recombination and transposition, and targeted DNA repair. Dr. Blumenthal is well trained for the work described here.