A fundamental gap exists in understanding how transcription by a translocating RNA polymerase modulates DNA topology and how transcription-coupled DNA supercoiling (TCDS) activates gene expression. For instance, the roles of sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins in TCDS are still not fully understood. The long- term goal of the proposed research is to understand how transcription affects DNA topology, chromosome structure, and the coupled DNA transactions, such as DNA replication and gene expression. The objectives of this application are to determine how certain sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins, such as bacteriophage lambda DNA replication initiator O protein and lactose repressor, regulate TCDS in vitro and in E. coli and to determine the mechanism by which TCDS activates gene expression. The central hypothesis is that the """"""""twin- supercoiled-domain"""""""" model is the mechanism responsible for TCDS in which nucleoprotein complexes, especially those containing stable toroidal supercoils assembled from tightly-wrapping DNA around certain sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins, can form topological barriers that impede the diffusion and merger of independent chromosomal supercoil domains. In this case, the """"""""confined"""""""" localized DNA supercoils may activate or inhibit the coupled DNA transactions. This hypothesis has been formulated on the basis of strong preliminary data produced in our laboratory and will be tested by pursuing four specific aims: 1) to determine the mechanisms by which certain sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins potently stimulate TCDS in the defined protein systems;2) to study effects of the sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins on TCDS in E. coli;3) to develop a novel system, based on a linear coliphage N15, to study activation of the Salmonella typhimurium leu-500 promoter by TCDS;4) to establish a nationally competitive research program at Florida International University (the PI's development objective). This application will provide important knowledge for understanding the mechanism of TCDS and its roles in gene expression. It will also provide the necessary resources for the PI to transit to non-SCORE support within a four-year funding period. Public Health Relevance: The significance of this research stems from its potential to provide a basis for better understanding of an essential biological process: gene transcription and expression. It also provides a foundation for further understanding DNA topology, which plays an important role in genome stability and certain human hereditary diseases, such as fragile X syndrome and Huntington's disease.

Public Health Relevance

The significance of this research stems from its potential to provide a basis for better understanding of an essential biological process: gene transcription and expression. It also provides a foundation for further understanding DNA topology, which plays an important role in genome stability and certain human hereditary diseases, such as fragile X syndrome and Huntington's disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Enhancement Award (SC1)
Project #
5SC1HD063059-04
Application #
8268387
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZGM1-MBRS-0 (GC))
Program Officer
Coulombe, James N
Project Start
2009-05-01
Project End
2014-04-30
Budget Start
2012-05-01
Budget End
2014-04-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$239,881
Indirect Cost
$73,561
Name
Florida International University
Department
Chemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
071298814
City
Miami
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
33199
Fulcrand, Geraldine; Chapagain, Prem; Dunlap, David et al. (2016) Direct observation of a 91 bp LacI-mediated, negatively supercoiled DNA loop by atomic force microscope. FEBS Lett 590:613-8
Sun, Pengfei; Leeson, Cristian; Zhi, Xiaoduo et al. (2016) Characterization of an epoxide hydrolase from the Florida red tide dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis. Phytochemistry 122:11-21
Fulcrand, Geraldine; Dages, Samantha; Zhi, Xiaoduo et al. (2016) DNA supercoiling, a critical signal regulating the basal expression of the lac operon in Escherichia coli. Sci Rep 6:19243
Alonso, Nicole; Guillen, Roboan; Chambers, Jeremy W et al. (2015) A rapid and sensitive high-throughput screening method to identify compounds targeting protein-nucleic acids interactions. Nucleic Acids Res 43:e52
Frost, Lorraine; Baez, Maria A M; Harrilal, Christopher et al. (2015) The Dimerization State of the Mammalian High Mobility Group Protein AT-Hook 2 (HMGA2). PLoS One 10:e0130478
Schenk, Emily R; Ridgeway, Mark E; Park, Melvin A et al. (2014) Isomerization kinetics of AT hook decapeptide solution structures. Anal Chem 86:1210-4
Ranjan, Nihar; Fulcrand, Geraldine; King, Ada et al. (2014) Selective Inhibition of Bacterial Topoisomerase I by alkynyl-bisbenzimidazoles. Medchemcomm 5:816-825
Ding, Yue; Manzo, Carlo; Fulcrand, Geraldine et al. (2014) DNA supercoiling: a regulatory signal for the ? repressor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111:15402-7
Leng, Fenfei (2013) DNA bending by proteins: utilizing plasmid pBendAT as a tool. Methods Mol Biol 1054:267-82
Fulcrand, Geraldine; Zhi, Xiaoduo; Leng, Fenfei (2013) Transcription-coupled DNA supercoiling in defined protein systems and in E. coli topA mutant strains. IUBMB Life 65:615-22

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