This award is under the International Postdoctoral Fellows Program, which enables U.S. scientists and engineers to conduct three to twelve months of research abroad at research centers of proven excellence. The program's awards provide opportunities for joint research, and the use of unique or complementary facilities, expertise and experimental conditions abroad. This award will support a twelve-month postdoctoral research visit by Dr. Deborah Eastman to the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Crete to work with Dr. Christos Delidakis. Their research will focus on the role of the neurogenic Enhancer of Split ?E(spl)! gene products during embryonic neurogenesis. These genes code for proteins with a conserved Helix-Loop-Helix motif, which makes them members of a family of proteins that regulate transcription. Dr. Delidakis has focused on elucidating the role of the E(spl) HLH proteins in the lateral inhibition during embryonic neurogenesis and in later developmental events. Dr. Eastman will focus on several of the E(spl) HLH proteins. Her main objective will be to biochemically characterize them in order to determine their function and to determine the regulation of that function by other neurogenic gene products in the signalling pathway. These characterization studies will begin by determining whether these proteins bind DNA. DNA binding activity will be assayed and specific DNA binding sites will be determined. Putative DNA binding sites will be sequenced and genes downstream of these sites will be cloned and sequenced. It will also be determined whether other proteins are complexed with specific E(spl) HLH proteins and if disruption of these complexes affects DNA binding. Additionally, a genetic screen will be performed to detect other gene products which may interact with the E(spl) HLH proteins. The award recommendation provides funds to cover international travel and a stipend for twelve months.
