Chromosome evolution and genome stability: SeqA, TnsE and Transposon Tn7

这项研究将探索细菌蛋白SEQA在基因组稳定性中的作用。这种重要但知之甚少的蛋白质似乎参与了在复制过程中保护细胞DNA免受有害重组事件的影响。这里建立的主题可以外推到其他生物体，并可能导致在重要和多样化的细菌系统中开发基因组操作程序。这项工作还将有助于解释一个庞大而重要的移动DNA元件家族或可以在DNA中各个位点之间移动的“跳跃”基因，是如何使用一种名为TnsE的蛋白质在非常不同类型的细菌中传播遗传信息的。这项工作还指出了在地球上最遥远的亲缘生物中保存的特征，同时强调了一种使寄生虫适应特定类型细菌的特征。广泛的影响：这项研究将在包括国家和地区会议在内的多个地点广泛传播。Tn7是一种重要的工具，用于修改基础科学和工业应用中各种细菌的遗传含量。这项工作将继续为这些努力提供便利。除了培养一名研究生外，这项工作还将让多名本科生参与有意义的研究经历。

This research will explore the role of the bacterial protein SeqA in genome stability. This important but poorly understood protein appears to be involved in protecting cellular DNA during replication from deleterious recombination events. Themes established here can be extrapolated to other organisms and potentially lead to the development of genome manipulation procedures in important and diverse bacterial systems. This work will also help explain how a large and important family of mobile DNA elements or "jumping" genes that can move between sites in the DNA are capable of disseminating genetic information across vastly different types of bacteria using a protein called TnsE. This work also indicates features that are conserved across the most distantly related organisms on earth while highlighting a feature that allows a parasite to adapt to specific types of bacteria.Broader Impacts: The research will be disseminated widely at multiple venues including national and regional meetings. Tn7 is an important tool for modifying the genetic content of a broad variety of bacteria for basic science and industrial applications. The work will continue to facilitate such efforts. In addition to training a graduate student, the work will also involve multiple undergraduates in meaningful research experiences.