The stability of the genome, which is dependent on faithful DNA replication, is essential to normal cell functions. Most human cancers have been shown to be related to some forms of genetic instabilities. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of DNA replication is fundamental in understanding the underlying causes of DNA instability related human diseases, as well as developing potential diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for these diseases. The objective of this research is to study the global organization of a replication fork, as the first step in understanding the structural basis for the coordinated synthesis of the leading and lagging strands during DNA replication. The bacteriophage T7 DNA replication system will be used as the model system in this study. Electron cryo-microscopic approaches will be employed to determine the structures of the complexes formed between replisomal proteins.
The specific aims of this proposal are: 1. Determine the structures of the T7 gene 4 helicase/ primase and the T7 DNA polymerase complexes in the contexts of the leading and lagging strand synthesis, respectively, using electron cryomicroscopic (cryoEM) methods. 2. Determine the structure of the entire T7 phage replisome using cryoEM methods.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32GM065746-02
Application #
6626259
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F04 (20))
Program Officer
Flicker, Paula F
Project Start
2002-03-25
Project End
Budget Start
2003-03-25
Budget End
2004-03-24
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$46,420
Indirect Cost
Name
Harvard University
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
047006379
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Dutta, Shuchismita; Li, Ying; Johnson, Donald et al. (2004) Crystal structures of 2-acetylaminofluorene and 2-aminofluorene in complex with T7 DNA polymerase reveal mechanisms of mutagenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 101:16186-91
Krejci, Lumir; Macris, Margaret; Li, Ying et al. (2004) Role of ATP hydrolysis in the antirecombinase function of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Srs2 protein. J Biol Chem 279:23193-9
Li, Ying; Dutta, Shuchismita; Doublie, Sylvie et al. (2004) Nucleotide insertion opposite a cis-syn thymine dimer by a replicative DNA polymerase from bacteriophage T7. Nat Struct Mol Biol 11:784-90