Yeast chromatin structure and function

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Our overall objective is to determine how chromosome structure and chromatin remodeling enzymes influence genome stability. In particular, we are interested in how these factors regulate the repair of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) by homologous recombination (HR) and how they control the progression and stability of replication forks. Defects in either of these pathways directly impact cell survival and maintenance of genome integrity, leading to mutations, gene translocations, gross chromosomal rearrangements, or cellular lethality. During the past budget period, biochemical assays were developed to dissect the early steps of HR on chromatin substrates, and heterochromatin-like structures were reconstituted that repress recombination and impose a requirement for ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling. In addition, the conserved Ino80.com chromatin remodeling enzyme was shown to be a key regulator of replication fork stability in vivo. Our general strategy is to continue to exploit a powerful combination of biochemical and molecular genetic approaches to dissect the dynamics of chromatin structure during the repair of DSBs and during the replication process, using budding yeast as the experimental system. Experiments described in this proposal address four aims. The first aim investigates the role of the Ino80.com chromatin remodeling enzyme in DSB processing. This aim uses genetic approaches to dissect how Ino80 is recruited to a DSB and how it contributes to processing. Biochemical studies are also described which will reconstitute DSB processing in vitro on nucleosomal substrates. Aim 2 describes biochemical studies that investigate changes in chromatin structure that occur during formation of the initial joint molecule during early steps of homologous recombination. Studies described in Aim 3 will use in vivo and in vitro methods to investigate functional interactions between Ino80.com and the Htz1 histone variant. Aim 4 describes a novel combination of single molecule, analytical ultracentrifugation, histone-histone and histone-DNA crosslinking methods to dissect the structural features of Sir heterochromatin.