Single Molecule Studies of Recombinational DNA Structure and Dynamics

Information

• NSF Award
• 0615590

Owner

• UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER

• Award Id

  0615590

• Award Effective Date

  9/1/2006 - 18 years ago

• Award Expiration Date

  8/31/2010 - 14 years ago

• Award Amount

  $ 434,217.00

• Award Instrument

  Continuing grant

The Holliday junction is an intermediate in homologous and site-specific DNA recombination, DNA replication, and DNA repair. Despite great efforts made in structural studies of Holliday junctions, the understanding of the branch migration process, as a central mechanism of DNA recombination, is rather poor. This work addresses this problem by focusing on structural studies of mobile Holliday junctions under conditions allowing branch migration. Single molecule techniques using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) will be applied, and three specific aims will be addressed to test the models for branch migration and to shed new light on the molecular mechanisms of this crucial step in DNA recombination. 1) Structural dynamics of Holliday junctions will be characterized in real time to follow branch migration at the single base pair level; 2) Large-scale dynamics of mobile Holliday junctions and spontaneous branch migration will be explored; 3) The effect of DNA supercoiling will be systematically analyzed. This research is accompanied by a educational component that is designed to foster the development of single-molecule biophysics within the context of training at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Creighton University. Particular emphasis of the training is an interdisciplinary course in bio-imaging and practical research experience in the university's nano-imagining facility.<br/><br/>Funding for this award is provided through the Division of Physics in the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences and the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences in the Directorate for Biological Sciences.

• Program Officer

  Krastan B. Blagoev

• Min Amd Letter Date

  8/10/2006 - 18 years ago

• Max Amd Letter Date

  12/1/2009 - 15 years ago

• ARRA Amount

• Name

  University of Nebraska Medical Center

• City

  Omaha

• State

  NE

• Country

  United States

• Address

  987835 Nebraska Medical Center

• Postal Code

  681987835

• Phone Number

  4025597456

• First Name

  Yuri

• Last Name

  Lyubchenko

• Email Address

  ylyubchenko@unmc.edu

• Start Date

  8/10/2006 12:00:00 AM

• First Name

  Luda

• Last Name

  Shlyakhtenko

• Email Address

  lshlyakhtenko@unmc.edu

• Start Date

  8/10/2006 12:00:00 AM

• Name

  Other Applications NEC

• Code

  99

• Text

  Molecular Biophysics

• Code

  1144

• Text

  MOLECULAR BIOPHYSICS

• Code

  1164

• Text

  PHYSICS OF LIVING SYSTEMS

• Code

  7246

• Text

  EXP PROG TO STIM COMP RES

• Code

  9150

• Text

  UNASSIGNED

• Code

  0

• Text

  BIOMOLECULAR SYSTEMS

• Code

  1144

• Text

  MOLECULAR BIOPHYSICS

• Code

  1164

• Text

  PHYSICS OF LIVING SYSTEMS

• Code

  7246

• Text

  EXP PROG TO STIM COMP RES

• Code

  9150

• Text

  OTHER RESEARCH OR EDUCATION