190 likes | 428 Views
Isolating and Purifying DNA Polymerase ζ. Yesenia Correa Biochemistry & Biophysics Mentor: Dr. John Hays Environmental and Molecular Toxicology. http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/A/Arabidopsis.html. DNA Polymerases.
E N D
Isolating and Purifying DNA Polymerase ζ Yesenia Correa Biochemistry & Biophysics Mentor: Dr. John Hays Environmental and Molecular Toxicology http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/A/Arabidopsis.html
DNA Polymerases • DNA polymerases are able to make accurate copies of DNA strands but in certain situations damaged areas can stop replication. • Translesion polymerases are specialized DNA polymerases that are able to synthesize DNA past a damaged template.
DNA Damage • Endogenous damage: • Oxygen radicals produced from metabolic byproducts. http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/2/2f/DNA_UV_mutation.gif • Exogenous damage: • Ultraviolet radiation • Human made mutagenic chemicals • Certain plant toxins
DNA Damage • Damage in cells causes: • Cell-cycle arrest • Apoptosis • Mutation • Unregulated cell division can lead to formation of a cancerous tumor http://www.sgul.ac.uk/depts/immunology/~dash/apoptosis/apoptosis.jpg
Polymerase ζ and Arabidopsis thaliana • Polymerase ζ is a translesion polymerase and is essential for life in mammals. • There is not very much known about the activity of polymerase ζ in higher eukaryotic organisms, because knockouts are lethal in mammals. • Isolating polymerase ζ in Arabidopsis thaliana would serve as a good model for working with polymerase ζ in human cells.
Background • Yeast polymerase ζ has been purified and studied biochemically, but human and Arabidopsis thaliana polymerase ζ have not been purified. • Polymerase ζ is a two subunit DNA polymerase containing Rev7 and Rev3.
Rev7 and Rev3 Rev7 • cDNA available • 648 base pairs • 215 amino acids Rev3 • cDNA not available • 5673 base pairs • 1890 amino acids
Objective • To express the genes that together encode the DNA polymerase ζ. • To analyze the ability of polymerase ζ to extend primer sequences on normal and damaged DNA templates.
Hypothesis • Polymerase ζ in Arabidopsis thaliana is more effective at bypassing DNA damage than yeast polymerase ζ.
Isolate DNA subunits Clone DNA subunits Purify the protein Analyze polymerase ζ Overview Express DNA
Isolating cDNA for Rev3 • Attempted using PCR to amplify Rev3 using a cDNA library. Appears to be correct size of the Rev3 gene. 7/06/07
Isolating Rev3 • Attempted cloning the PCR product of the correct size but were unsuccessful. • The Rev3 gene is underrepresented in the cDNA libraries available.
Plaque Hybridization • A method used to screen a cDNA library to isolate a specific gene. • The cDNA library is combined with E.coli and plated on LB agar plates. • A nitrocellulose membrane is then placed on the LB agar and marked asymmetrically. • The nitrocellulose membrane serves as an identical copy for the plate.
Plaque Hybridization • A probe of a significant size is necessary to isolate the gene. • Using PCR and genomic DNA a probe for Rev3 was isolated. • This probe is then radioactively labeled.
http://www.mun.ca/biology/desmid/brian/BIOL2060/BIOL2060-20/2030.jpghttp://www.mun.ca/biology/desmid/brian/BIOL2060/BIOL2060-20/2030.jpg
Isolating Rev7 • Streaked for isolation • Cloned into pET21a expression vector
Expressing Rev7 • Rev7 subunit expressed as a protein. +) expression induced —) expression not induced
What is next • Continue with plaque hybridization to isolate Rev3. • Proceed to clone Rev3 and assure the purity of the product. • Express Rev3 and Rev7 as polymerase ζ.
Acknowledgements • Howard Hughes Medical Institute • Dr. John Hays • Pete Hoffman • Buck Wilcox • Dr. Kevin Ahern