Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowship for FY2006

2006财年少数族裔博士后研究奖学金

• 批准号: 0610313
• 负责人: Maria Thelma Ocampo
• 金额: $ 18万
• 依托单位: Ocampo MariaThelma A
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Fellowship Award
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-07-01 至 2008-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0610313&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Minority; Postdoctoral; Research; Fellowship; FY2006

This project is awarded under the Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowships and Supporting Activities Program for 2006. Cell division is a fundamental process in the growth and proliferation of all living organisms. This entails the accurate duplication and the faithful distribution of the genome from the mother cell to the daughter cells. For this purpose, the ring-like cohesin complex physically links sister chromatids to prevent their premature separation during cell division. However, despite its importance in chromosomal stability, little is known about the interaction of cohesin with chromosomes. Previous laboratory findings have revealed that cohesin relocates from its initial binding sites and accumulates at sites of convergent transcriptional termination along Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosomes. To elucidate the nature of cohesin binding to chromosomes, this project, under the mentorship of Dr. Uhlmann Frank at the London Research Institute, will investigate the mechanism of cohesin relocation in vivo. Specifically, this study will a) characterize the translocation of cohesin upon induction of transcription and b) assess the behavior of cohesin during centromere breathing. This analysis will test whether cohesin relocation occurs by sliding along chromosomes or by reloading of the complex downstream of the initial binding site. Since cohesin is essential for mediating sister chromatid cohesion during cell division, these findings will provide novel insights about the mechanism of action of a critical component of eukaryotic chromosome segregation. My postdoctoral project builds on my strong interest and background in genomic maintenance and extends it toward an understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in chromosome stability. I will acquire complementary skills in molecular genetics and cell biology, and I will gain experience in utilizing budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as a model organism for examining fundamental eukaryotic cellular processes. I am firmly committed to pursuing an independent research career, which will enable me to promote diversity in science and to serve as a mentor and role model for students, especially young scientists from underrepresented groups.

该项目是根据2006年少数民族博士后研究奖学金和支持活动计划授予的。细胞分裂是所有生物生长和繁殖的基本过程。这需要准确复制基因组，并将基因组从母细胞忠实地分配到子细胞。为此，环状粘附素复合体在物理上连接姐妹染色单体，以防止它们在细胞分裂期间过早分离。然而，尽管粘附素对染色体的稳定性很重要，但人们对粘附素与染色体的相互作用知之甚少。以前的实验室发现，粘附素从其最初的结合位置重新定位，并聚集在酿酒酵母染色体上的聚合转录终止位置。为了阐明粘附素与染色体结合的性质，该项目在伦敦研究所的乌尔曼·弗兰克博士的指导下，将在体内研究粘附素重新定位的机制。具体地说，这项研究将a)表征转录诱导时粘附素的移位，以及b)评估着丝粒呼吸过程中粘附素的行为。这项分析将测试粘附素的重新定位是通过沿染色体滑动还是通过重新加载初始结合部位下游的复合体来发生的。由于粘附素在细胞分裂过程中对调节姐妹染色单体的凝聚力是必不可少的，这些发现将为真核细胞染色体分离的关键成分的作用机制提供新的见解。我的博士后项目建立在我对基因组维护的浓厚兴趣和背景之上，并将其扩展到对涉及染色体稳定性的分子机制的理解上。我将获得分子遗传学和细胞生物学方面的互补技能，并将获得利用萌芽酵母酿酒酵母作为研究基本真核细胞过程的模式生物的经验。我坚定地致力于从事独立的研究事业，这将使我能够促进科学的多样性，并成为学生，特别是来自代表性不足群体的年轻科学家的导师和榜样。