The mechanism of chromosome condensation remains virtually unknown. The goal of this proposal is to decipher the action of the condensin, a protein complex most responsible for mitotic chromosome compaction, by combining biochemical, EM/AFM-structural, and single molecule analysis of DNA chromatin acted upon by the purified condensin complexes.
Aims : (1) To apply single molecule techniques of optical and magnetic tweezing of DNA to test binding and path reconfiguration by the SMC proteins, the condensin, and condensin regulator complex. (2) To use electron and atomic force microscopy to probe the ultrastructure of condensin-bound DNA. (3) To find and purify the T. thermophila condensin for comparative biochemistry and single molecule experiments. By combining measured condensation forces and fold compaction exerted by the condensin, with EM and AFM structural information, a better description of chromosome condensation promoted by the condensin complex could result. While at first glance seemingly unrelated, Aim (3) will provide a separate condensin from a distantly related organism, and provide valuable comparative molecular analyses from an organinsm also highly amenable to genetic cytological analysis.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
1F32GM072366-01
Application #
6837858
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F04B (20))
Program Officer
Okita, Richard T
Project Start
2004-07-01
Project End
2006-06-30
Budget Start
2004-07-01
Budget End
2005-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$42,976
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Berkeley
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
124726725
City
Berkeley
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94704
Stray, James E; Crisona, Nancy J; Belotserkovskii, Boris P et al. (2005) The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Smc2/4 condensin compacts DNA into (+) chiral structures without net supercoiling. J Biol Chem 280:34723-34