Molecular mechanisms of DNA homology search involving nucleosomes

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24570138
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Structural biochemistry
• Research Institution: Meisei University
• Principal Investigator: KAGAWA Wataru 明星大学, 理工学部, 准教授 (70415123)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): KURUMIZAKA Hitoshi 早稲田大学, 先進理工学部, 教授 (80300870)
• Research Collaborator: SAOTOME Mika 明星大学, 理工学部
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 相同組換え / クロマチン / タンパク質-核酸相互作用

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this research is to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in homologous recombination in the context of the chromatin structure. Homologous recombination is initiated by a double-strand break, and is followed by the search for homologous DNA sequences in the genome. The genomic DNA, however, is composed of nucleosomes, which compacts the DNA. This compaction is a potential barrier for homologous recombination. Through structural studies of the interactions between proteins involved in promoting homologous recombination and nucleosomes, we have identified interactions between recombination proteins and nucleosomes that may provide important insights into the mechanism of DNA homology search that takes place on the chromatin.

Free Research Field

構造生物学