Research Projects

The principal goal of this of project is to gain insights into the structure and function of S. cerevisiae meiosis-specific Hop1 (a component of SC) as it relates to the mechanism of chromosome synapsis and HR. The specific objectives of this proposal are four-fold: (a) to continue the structure-function analysis of S. cerevisiae Hop1 and determine the kinetic responses of its ATPase activity and its role in chromatin remodelling reactions; (b) to study the putative ATPase site by mutagenesis and biochemical and structural analyses of mutants; (c) to determine the significance of ATP binding/hydrolysis on homotypic and heterotypic interactions between Hop1 and Red1and (d) to elucidate the significance of Hop1 ATPase activity in nucleosome/chromatin remodelling during chromosome synapsis and recombination in meiotic cells.