New Project Added!

Michael Bartlett The Role of Basal Transcription Factors in Gene Expression in Hyperthermophile Archaea. Our research focus is on the basic mechanism of transcription in the archaea. The transcription machinery in archaea is strikingly similar to that of eukaryotes, although considerably simpler. Our model system is the hyperthermophile archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus, which grows best at temperatures near 100°C. The roles of its transcription factors in transcription initiation and elongation are being studied using biochemistry and molecular biology. We recently developed a novel cross-linking technique to define protein-DNA interactions that relies on recombinant proteins containing unnatural amino acids. An REU project will involve introduction of mutations in surfaces likely to be involved in DNA-protein interactions, followed by characterization of the mutant proteins in biochemical assays. Through this, the REU student will gain experience in the design and introduction of site-directed mutations, protein purification, gel electrophoresis, PCR, and in vitro analysis of protein-DNA interactions. Understanding the specific positioning and roles of transcription factors will help develop a unified model for transcription initiation and elongation in eukaryotic-type transcription systems.