Date:
Wed, 02/12/2020 - 13:00 to 14:00
Location:
https://huji.zoom.us/j/82970786574?pwd=ZTByU3g5bVRJS05DYWNxNS9qeFpDQT09
Candidate Lecture: A methyl-TROSY approach to NMR studies of large DNAs and protein-DNA complexes
Dr. Gili Abramov, Departmentsof Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Chemistry The University of Toronto,Toronto, Canada
Abstract
High-molecular-weight complexes that contain both protein and nucleic acid components are involved in
many of the important functions in the cell including transcription, packaging, and repair. Developments in
solution NMR spectroscopy, specifically methyl-TROSY approaches, have facilitated the study of the
protein portions of these complexes, while studies of the nucleic acids have proven challenging.
A new approach for labeling DNA molecules with methyl-group probes at specific sites has been
developed, followed by the use of optimized NMR methods to obtain high-quality data in studies of these
large molecular complexes. The methodology is demonstrated on the 150 base-pairs DNA molecule of
the nucleosome core particle, the fundamental building block of chromatin. DNA methylation is also an
important epigenetic mark.
In mammals, CpG methylation serves as a regulation mechanism for gene expression. Methylation of
promoter regions has been associated with tumorous cells including cancer. The effect of CpG
methylation on the structural dynamics of the nucleosome core particle is demonstrated.
Dr. Gili Abramov, Departmentsof Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Chemistry The University of Toronto,Toronto, Canada
Abstract
High-molecular-weight complexes that contain both protein and nucleic acid components are involved in
many of the important functions in the cell including transcription, packaging, and repair. Developments in
solution NMR spectroscopy, specifically methyl-TROSY approaches, have facilitated the study of the
protein portions of these complexes, while studies of the nucleic acids have proven challenging.
A new approach for labeling DNA molecules with methyl-group probes at specific sites has been
developed, followed by the use of optimized NMR methods to obtain high-quality data in studies of these
large molecular complexes. The methodology is demonstrated on the 150 base-pairs DNA molecule of
the nucleosome core particle, the fundamental building block of chromatin. DNA methylation is also an
important epigenetic mark.
In mammals, CpG methylation serves as a regulation mechanism for gene expression. Methylation of
promoter regions has been associated with tumorous cells including cancer. The effect of CpG
methylation on the structural dynamics of the nucleosome core particle is demonstrated.