Transcriptional silencing is an epigenetic mechanism for control of gene expression. Genes located in certain regions of the eukaryotic chromosomes are permanently repressed. This heritable transcriptionally silent state is caused by altered chromatin structure that can be propagated from one generation to the next. Gene silencing has been observed in organisms ranging from yeast to human. Examples of silencing include mating-type loci in fission and budding yeasts, position effect variegation in Drosophila, and X-chromosome inactivation in mammals. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, several protein complexes are known to be critical for establishing and maintaining transcriptional silencing at several genomic loci. They include the Silent Information Regulator proteins, Sir1p, Sir2p, Sir3p and Sir4p, and several sequence-specific DNA binding proteins, the Origin Recognition Complex (ORC), Rap1p and Abf1p. The structural basis of transcriptional silencing is still poorly understood. We will study the structure and function of the SIR proteins and ORC using X-ray crystallography as our principal method. The result of this study may facilitate an understanding of epigenetic inheritance, DNA repair and aging.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01GM063716-02S1
Application #
6631166
Study Section
Biophysical Chemistry Study Section (BBCB)
Program Officer
Lewis, Catherine D
Project Start
2001-08-01
Project End
2005-07-31
Budget Start
2002-08-01
Budget End
2003-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$50,899
Indirect Cost
Name
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Department
Type
DUNS #
065968786
City
Cold Spring Harbor
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
11724
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