Dr. Lorraine Pillus has provided general support for her studies of positional control of gene expression in yeast. Her research program is directed toward understanding the molecular basis for control of gene expression and cell identity. She is using the combined techniques of biochemistry, cell biology and genetics to examine the assembly and inheritance of transcriptionally repressed states of cell type information. In addition, she is attempting to identify functional correlates of the yeast genes in vertebrates using a yeast assay system, as well as identifying signals and targets in yeast controlling the germination of yeast spores. %%% The ultimate goal of this research is to understand molecular mechanisms for establishing and maintaining transcriptionally inactive regions in the chromosomes of dividing cells. Because the position effect that is the focus of these experiments involves a heterochromatic structure of chromatin, the results of these studies will bear on the genetic control of imprinting and on the structure of eukaryotic chromosomes.
