Detecting and Modifying Chromatin Organization in the Budding Yeast Genome with Synthetic Proteins
Loading...
Date
2023-03-24
Authors
Banks, Orion
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
DNA in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells is condensed into chromatin by forming specialized structures called nucleosomes. DNA is wrapped around a set of histone proteins to from nucleosomes, which are eventually positioned by robust, reproducible mechanisms. Mutations in chromatin organizing proteins are common in human diseases, indicating that studying the systems in place to control chromatin organization could be insightful for developing novel therapeutics. S. cerevisiae is an ideal model organism for this work, as it is tolerant to dysregulated nucleosome positioning, genetically tractable, and contains homologs of many human proteins. Here, I describe several studies that have furthered our understanding of chromatin organization in the context of nucleosome positioning. First, I detail a set of synthetic proteins that enable nucleosomes to be repositioned at characteristic sites in the yeast genome. Following this is a detailed account of our investigation into the biochemical mechanisms underlying targeted chromatin remodeling at a subset of genome loci by the chromatin remodeler Isw2. Next, a protocol for efficiently detecting nucleosome positions is described, including its application to yeast deficient in chromatin remodeling activity. In chapter five, I present a system for detecting protein-DNA interactions and nucleosome positions using targeted nuclease digestion with endogenously expressed proteins. I also outline some of the potential applications of this technique, including use with chromatin remodeling proteins, which often prove difficult to map with standard methods.This dissertation contains previously published co-authored material.
Description
Keywords
Chromatin, DNA binding proteins, Genomics, Nucleosome positioning, Synthetic biology