Characterization of Dbf4/Cdc7 function in DNA replication and cell cycle checkpoint responses

我的研究小组正在使用萌芽酵母来研究细胞分裂。我们目前的研究重点是识别和表征控制DNA复制(遗传物质的复制)启动的蛋白质因素。萌芽酵母已被证明是此类研究的一个非常有用的有机体，因为它是为数不多的DNA复制起点(复制起源)已经被很好地描述的物种之一。这有助于识别调节这些复制起始点的众多蛋白质因子。DBF4和CDC7是两种这样的蛋白质，它们共同作用来触发复制。除了在DNA复制中的功能外，Dbf4和CDC7对细胞的“检查点”功能也很重要，当DNA受损时，检查点功能可以防止DNA复制。我实验室的研究集中在更好地了解这些蛋白质共同工作的方式，并与细胞中的其他蛋白质相互作用，以执行它们在细胞分裂中的关键作用。重要的是，Dbf4和CDC7的不同版本似乎存在于各种物种的细胞中，并以大致相同的方式发挥作用。因此，这些研究的最新结果将有助于我们更好地确定包括人类在内的生物是如何生长和发育的，也有助于我们了解细胞在暴露于导致DNA损伤的环境污染物时如何反应。

My research group is using budding yeast in studies of cell division. We are currently focusing our investigations on identifying and characterizing protein factors that control the initiation of DNA replication (duplication of the genetic material). Budding yeast has proven to be a very useful organism for such studies because it is one of the few species for which the starting points for DNA replication (origins of replication) have been well characterized. This has facilitated the identification of numerous protein factors that regulate these replication origins. Dbf4 and Cdc7 are two such proteins which work together to trigger replication. In addition to their function in DNA replication, Dbf4 and Cdc7 are important for cellular 'checkpoint' functions, which prevent duplication of DNA when it has been damaged. Research in my lab is centered on a better understanding of the way these proteins work together, and interact with other proteins in the cell, to carry out their essential roles in cell division. Importantly, versions of Dbf4 and Cdc7 appear to exist and function in much the same way in cells from a wide variety of species. Therefore, the  results of these studies will help us better determine how organisms, including humans, grow and develop, as well us help us understand how cells respond when they are exposed to environmental pollutants that cause DNA damage.