Regulation of archaeal gene expression by basal transcription factors variants

大多数细胞类型含有相同的遗传物质来编码各种细胞成分。细胞类型的差异（例如神经元与肌肉细胞相比）是因为遗传物质的不同部分被读出。RNA聚合酶（RNAP）是参与选择性阅读机制的细胞机制的关键部分，因此，非常详细地了解其分子结构和功能是非常重要的。然而，RNAP不能自己执行这一功能，它们依赖于基础因子的帮助，这些因子帮助它们与遗传物质的正确位置结合。我们正在使用一类简单的微生物（古生菌），令人惊讶的是，它们含有RNAP和基础因子，这些因子与包括人类在内的高等生物非常相似。通过研究这些古细菌组分的生化特性，我们希望更好地了解基础因子的功能以及它们如何引导RNAP到达正确的起始位点。所选择的古生菌模型系统的另一个优点是，这些古生菌在生物学上极端恶劣的条件下生长（在盐饱和的湖泊中，受到高强度阳光的照射）。通过研究能够承受这种环境挑战的生物体，我们还可以了解生命系统如何在其他行星上进化和发挥作用，从而为了解外星生命形式提供基础。

The majority of cell types contain the same genetic material to encode the various cellular components. Differences in cell types (e.g. neurons as compared to muscle cells) arise because different parts of the genetic material are read out. RNA polymerises (RNAPs) are a crucial part of the cellular machinery involved in the selective reading mechanism and it is therefore important to understand their molecular structure and function in considerable detail. RNAPs can, however, not carry out this function on their own ¿ they rely on the assistance of basal factors that help them to bind to the right places of the genetic material. We are using a class of simple microorganisms (archaea) that, amazingly, contain an RNAP and basal factors that are very similar to those found in higher organisms, including humans. By studying the biochemical properties of these archaeal components we hope to gain a better understanding of the function of basal factors and how they guide RNAPs to the correct starts sites. An additional advantage of the chosen archaeal model system is that these archaea grow under biologically extremely hostile conditions (in salt-saturated lakes bombarded with high intensity sunlight). By studying organisms that are capable of withstanding such environmental challenges we also gain insights how living systems could evolve and function on other planets and thus provide the basis for understanding extraterrestrial life forms.