A long range goal of this laboratory is to be able to detail the events that occur during the initiation of transcription of protein coding genes class II genes through the characterization of the proteins involved and their various protein: DNA and protein:protein interactions with the intent of formulating and understanding some of the mechanisms that operate in the regulation of expression of class II genes. The specific aims are to understand the mechanism(s) by which a transforming gene such as Ela can regulate the expression of other viral and cellular genes. These include studies on the isolation of the factors required for transcription of genes whose expression is regulated by the products of the Ela gene. The factors will be purified from adenovirus infected and uninfected cells using functional transcription assay. The interaction of the gene specific factor with Ela protein, other transcription factors and promoter sequences will be analyzed through the use of techniques. Understanding the mechanisms by which transcription is regulated is extremely important. A number of studies report obtaining putative transcription factors on the basis of DNA binding assays. While this approach has yielded important information continued progress is going to depend on detailed biochemical analysis of functional in vitro transcription systems. Because of the complexity of eucaryotic pol III transcription and the myriad of protein factors involved in modulation there must be a large number of purified or partially purified components. Dr. Reinberg is one of the few investigators dedicated to this task.
