9407704 BERMAN The project will study the organization of telomeres in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Fluorescence in situ hybridization experiments will be done to visualize the positions of telomere DNA and nuclear proteins which interact with this DNA. Mutant strains of the yeast with aberrant telomere structures will then be used to identify roles for individual components of the telomere complex. The investigators have already identified mutations in four different genes which impact telomere function. The principal activity supported by this award is the immuno- microscopic visualization of the telomere interactions with nuclear proteins. %%% The ends of chromosomes are termed telomeres. They have unique properties and can dramatically impact the stability of chromosomes. The DNA in a telomere is known to have a well defined, repeating pattern which facilitates its replication. Interaction of this DNA with a variety of proteins found in the nucleus of the cell is also critical for proper chromosome behavior. These interactions have not been characterized to the extent that we understand what they are and how they work. Previous work has focused on genetic and biochemical investigations of these questions. This project will extend this work to examine, at the microscopic level, what happens in living cells where telomere function has been disrupted by mutations. ***
