PROTEINS AND ENZYMES AFFECTING CHROMATIN

描述(改编自研究人员的摘要)：长期目标 是了解真核细胞，使用酵母，酵母菌 酿酒，作为一种模式系统。总的目标是找出影响 核内的结构和功能。目前的努力集中在三个方面 区域。1)交配型基因座转录沉默的机制 和端粒。这种沉默被认为是由于酵母相当于 异染色质。一项新的基因筛查发现了许多新的基因 它们似乎在沉默中起到了作用。这些基因的功能将是 调查过了。其中一个基因编码一种与SIR4结合的蛋白质； 这种结合可能导致沉默的染色质 核外围国家将接受测试。2)进化论研究 保守基因ASF1。这种蛋白质在细胞核中的功能尚不清楚。 它可能在染色质DNA损伤的修复中发挥作用。双混合系统， 基因筛选和生化方法将被用来寻找能够 与ASF1交互。3)一个必需基因HBP3的研究及其可能 DNA复制过程中染色质重塑或组蛋白沉积的作用。 这些领域的进展将揭示人类的染色体结构和功能。 真核细胞核，不仅存在于酵母中，也存在于哺乳动物细胞中。

DESCRIPTION (adapted from the investigator's abstract): The long-term objective is to understand the eukaryotic nucleus, using the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as a model system. The overall aim is to identify genes affecting structure and function in the nucleus. Current effort is focused in three areas. 1) the mechanism of transcriptional silencing of the mating type loci and telomeres. This silencing is thought to be due to the yeast equivalent of heterochromatin. A novel genetic screen has identified a number of new genes that appear to play a role in silencing. The functions of these genes will be investigated. One of the genes encodes a protein that binds to SIR4; the possibility that this binding is responsible for bringing silent chromatin to the nuclear periphery will be tested. 2) a study of the evolutionarily conserved gene, ASF1. The function of this protein in the nucleus is unknown. It may play a role in repair of DNA damage in chromatin. The two-hybrid system, genetic screens and biochemical methods will be used to find proteins that interact with ASF1. 3) a study of an essential gene, HBP3, and its possible role in chromatin remodeling or histone deposition during DNA replication. Progress in these areas will shed light on chromosome structure and function in the eukaryotic nucleus, not only in yeast but also in mammalian cells.