GENE CONTROL IN INFECTION AND LYSOGENY BY PHAGE LAMBDA

描述(改编自研究人员摘要)：基因表达 在正常和病理条件下是由RNA聚合酶介导的 酶，一系列复杂的多亚基分子机器， 在进化上高度保守。RNA聚合酶功能不受控制 仅在获得基因(转录启动)的水平上，但 也是在RNAP执行其序列的酶进展过程中 基因信息的读出。这种控制的一个重要例子就是 在HIV病毒中，并由其主要调节因子Tat基因介导。这个 用于理解酶机制的中心模型 转录调控是E。 大肠杆菌噬菌体lambda，修饰RNA聚合酶的Q蛋白 在其起始点附近，但随后成为酶的一个亚单位， 使其能够更有效地伸长并通过 转录终止信号。调查员将研究重要的 Q多肽和RNA聚合酶亚基的元件 它们的物理和功能相互作用所需的物质， 尤其是西格玛启动因子，它介导了 Q蛋白与RNA聚合酶的结合，他将检查 Q修饰的RNA聚合酶的酶学性质改变。他会的 探讨转录终止的机制和方式 其中调控蛋白干扰这一过程。

DESCRIPTION (adapted from the investigator's abstract): Gene expression in normal and pathological conditions is mediated by RNA polymerase enzymes, a family of complex, multisubunit molecular machines that is highly conserved in evolution. RNA polymerase function is controlled not only at the level of access to genes (transcription initiation), but also during enzyme progression as RNAP carries out its sequential readout of the gene message. An important example of such control occurs in HIV virus and is mediated by its major regulator, the TAT gene. The central models for understanding enzymatic mechanisms involved in transcriptional regulation are the antitermination proteins of the E. coli bacteriophage lambda, the Q protein, which modifies RNA polymerase near its initiation site, but then becomes a subunit of the enzyme, allowing it to elongate more efficiently and to progress through transcription termination signals. The investigator will study important elements of both the Q polypeptide and the subunits of RNA polymerase that are required for their physical and functional interaction, particularly the sigma initiation factor which mediates the initial engagement of Q protein with RNA polymerase, and he will examine the altered enzymatic properties of Q modified RNA polymerase. He will investigate the mechanism of transcription termination and the manner in which regulatory proteins interfere with this process.