Visualization of Chromosomal Telomeres in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

[407704]伯曼：该项目将研究酿酒酵母的端粒组织。荧光原位杂交实验将用于可视化端粒DNA和与此DNA相互作用的核蛋白的位置。具有异常端粒结构的酵母突变株将用于鉴定端粒复合体的单个组分的作用。研究人员已经确定了影响端粒功能的四种不同基因的突变。该奖项支持的主要活动是端粒与核蛋白相互作用的免疫显微可视化。染色体的末端称为端粒。它们具有独特的特性，可以极大地影响染色体的稳定性。已知端粒中的DNA具有明确的重复模式，有助于其复制。这种DNA与细胞核中发现的多种蛋白质的相互作用对于染色体的正常行为也是至关重要的。这些相互作用还没有被描述到我们理解它们是什么以及它们是如何工作的程度。以前的工作主要集中在这些问题的遗传和生化调查上。这个项目将扩展这项工作，在微观水平上检查活细胞中端粒功能被突变破坏时会发生什么。* * *

9407704 BERMAN The project will study the organization of telomeres in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Fluorescence in situ hybridization experiments will be done to visualize the positions of telomere DNA and nuclear proteins which interact with this DNA. Mutant strains of the yeast with aberrant telomere structures will then be used to identify roles for individual components of the telomere complex. The investigators have already identified mutations in four different genes which impact telomere function. The principal activity supported by this award is the immuno- microscopic visualization of the telomere interactions with nuclear proteins. %%% The ends of chromosomes are termed telomeres. They have unique properties and can dramatically impact the stability of chromosomes. The DNA in a telomere is known to have a well defined, repeating pattern which facilitates its replication. Interaction of this DNA with a variety of proteins found in the nucleus of the cell is also critical for proper chromosome behavior. These interactions have not been characterized to the extent that we understand what they are and how they work. Previous work has focused on genetic and biochemical investigations of these questions. This project will extend this work to examine, at the microscopic level, what happens in living cells where telomere function has been disrupted by mutations. ***