STRUCTURAL STUDIES OF NUCLEIC ACID-BINDING PROTEINS

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Recognition and binding of nucleic acids by proteins plays a fundamental role in cellular biochemistry. We are interested in studying the structural basis for specific and non-specific protein-nucleic acid interactions. We are investigating non-specific DNA-binding by elucidating the mechanisms of processivity of two distinct DNA exonucleases through structural studies. Specific protein-DNA interactions will be investigated using a Drosophila developmental protein in complex with DNA. In order to gain better insight into the structural basis of protein-RNA interactions, we are looking at a bacterial DEAD-box RNA helicase. These structural studies will provide a better understanding of the structural characteristics that govern protein-nucleic acid interactions.