Long and Medium-Term Research: Isolation and Characterization of Inhibitors of FOS/JUN DNA-Binding Function

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Long & Medium-Term Research: Isolation and Characterization of Inhibitors of FOS/JUN DNA-Binding Function This award is under the Long and Medium-Term Research at Foreign Centers of Excellence Program, which enables U.S. scientists and engineers to conduct three to twelve months of research abroad at research centers of proven excellence. The program's awards provide opportunities for joint research, and the use of unique or complementary facilities, expertise and experimental conditions abroad. This award will support a twelve-month postdoctoral research visit by Dr. Carlos Molina-Nazario to work with Dr. Paolo Sassone- Corsi at the Laboratoire de Genetique Molecularie des Eucaryotes, CNRS in Strasbourg, France. The purpose of this research project is to find suppressor(s) of the Fos/Jun transactivating activity. Fos and Jun are transcriptional activators that belong to the early response gene class. They mediate the translation of extracellular signals into long term cellular response such as cell growth and differentiation. They are also defined proto-oncogenes because they can act as transforming genes if activated. The transforming activity seems to be related to the transactivating properties. Therefore factors involved in the suppression of the Fos-Jun transactivating properties are likely to be involved in the control of the cell proliferation and transformation. The purpose of the project can be summarized as follows: to isolate and characterize the factor IP-1 (a specific repressor of Fos/Jun function) and study its involvement in the control of Fos/Jun transactivating properties, and to characterize IP-1's role in cell proliferation and transformation. The learning of these unique methods in molecular biology and the general systems of molecular carcinogenesis will help Dr. Molina-Nazario for the future study of the molecular mechanism involved in the onset of cancer. The award recommendation provides funds to cover a stipend for twelve months, a dependent allowance and return airfare.