Silencing, Heterochromatin and DNA Double Strand Break Repair / Edition 1

by Kevin D. Mills

Overview

The field of DNA repair is vast and advancing rapidly. Recent investigations have begun to focus on the involvement of chromatin in the repair of broken DNA. Although I have no doubt that many breakthroughs in our understanding of chromatin, chromatin regulation, and DNA repair lie in our future, presently this is a new line in inquiry. As such there are many, many unanswered questions. Indeed, most of the correct questions have probably not even been asked yet. Here I have attempted to present a review of some of the current body of knowledge that may prove relevant to understanding the role of chromatin in DNA repair. Because the volume of research, and the relevant findings, come from a staggering array of labs, systems, and ideas I have focused primarily on findings developed from the study of the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Unfortunately, this means that I have left out a great deal of information. It is my hope, however, that the information I do detail, particularly in Chapter 1, will give a flavor for the scope of the problem and perhaps highlight some of the interesting directions this field is taking, or may one day take. I would also point out that the primary research that is presented herein is not in any way meant to represent the comprehensive scope of research being performed. To understand DNA repair will require investigation from innumerable labs, performed by innumerable researchers, moving in unexpected directions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780792379829
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	10/31/2000
Edition description:	2001
Pages:	122
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.01(d)

Table of Contents

1 Introduction to silencing, heterochromatin, and DNA break repair.- Yeast Silencing.- DNA Damage Repair.- Recent Findings.- 2 Identification and characterization of high-copy antagonists of silencing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.- Results.- Discussion.- 3 MEC1-dependent redistribution of the Sir3 silencing protein from telomeres to DNA double strand breaks.- Summary.- Results.- Discussion.- 4 The antisilencing gene ASF1 is required for resistance to DNA damage.- Results.- Discussion.- 5 Summary and Conclusions.- Summary.- DNA repair.- Role of SIR complex.- Role of ASF1.- Model for heterochromatin response.- Implications and questions.- Appendix A: Procedures.- Appendix B: Yeast strains.- Appendix C: Oligonucleotides.- References.

Editorial Reviews

Recent investigations have suggested the involvement of chromatin in the repair of broken DNA, and Mills (Harvard Medical School) though it was time to announce the new direction of research, even though many questions remain unanswered, and indeed many of the right ones remain to be asked. In order to focus the wide range of research, he concentrates on the study of the budding yeast Saccharomyces ceremisiae conducted in the laboratory of Leonard Guarente at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Silencing is the position- dependent repression of gene transcription as a regulatory process in eukaryotes. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR