9600341 Horecka This award supports a 12-month Japanese Science and Technology Agency (STA) Postdoctoral Fellowship for Dr. Joseph Horecka at the National Institute for Bioscience and Human-Technology in Tsukuba, Japan. Dr. Horecka will work with Dr. Yoshifumi Jigami, Director of the Molecular Biology Department, on a research project entitled, "Studies on the Interdependency of N-linked Protein Glycosylation and Cell Cycle START in the Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae." The proposed research will investigate the inter-dependency between asparagine-linked (N-linked) glycosylation and cell cycle START in the budding yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae. Asparagine-linked protein glycosylation occurs ubiquitously in eukaryotes and serves to modulate the structure and function of cellular and secreted proteins. The variety of roles played by N-linked glycoproteins range from yeast cell wall components to mammalian growth factor receptors. In both yeast and mammals N-linked glycosyla-tion is required for progression through cell cycle START, the point in late G1 at which cells commit to a new round of DNA synthesis and cell division. Although the basis for this requirement is unknown, its elucidation will reveal novel mechanisms of eukaryotic cell cycle control. Two specific analyses will be undertaken in the research. First, a molecular genetic approach will be used to identify genes that function to connect the N-linked glycosylation pathway and the cell cycle machinery. Second, the transcription regulation of OCH1 will be further characterized. Since the enzymes involved in both N-linked glycosylation and cell cycle control are similar in all eukaryotes, it is reasonable to expect that the results from this project can be generalized to mammals. ***
