PROTEINS AND ENZYMES AFFECTING CHROMATIN

描述（改编自研究者摘要）：长期目的 是了解真核生物的细胞核，利用酵母菌 酿酒酵母，作为模型系统。总的目标是确定影响 核的结构和功能。目前的工作集中在三个方面 地区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 异染色质一种新的基因筛选已经确定了一些新的基因 似乎起到了沉默的作用。这些基因的功能将 研究了其中一个基因编码一种与SIR 4结合的蛋白质; 这种结合的可能性是负责使沉默的染色质， 核外围将受到考验。2)对进化论的研究 保守基因ASF 1。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。双混合动力系统， 基因筛选和生物化学方法将用于寻找蛋白质， 与ASF 1互动。3)一个重要基因HBP 3的研究， 在DNA复制过程中染色质重塑或组蛋白沉积中的作用。 这些领域的进展将有助于阐明染色体的结构和功能， 真核细胞核，不仅在酵母中，而且在哺乳动物细胞中。

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.