Objective By detailed evolutionary comparisons among multiple sequenced yeast genomes, we have identified several unusual regions where our preliminary evidence suggests that previously unknown molecular biology phenomena, involving rearrangement of genomic DNA, are occurring. I now propose to use a combination of dry-lab and wet-lab experimental approaches to characterize these regions and phenomena further. One region is a 24-kb section of chromosome XIV that appears to undergo recurrent 'flip/flop' inversion between two isomers at a fairly high rate in five species as diverse as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Naumovia castellii, leading to a 1:1 ratio of the two isomers in each species. We hypothesize that this region is the site of a programmed DNA rearrangement analogous to mating-type switching. We have also identified two new genes related to the mating-type switching endonuclease HO, but different from it, that are potentially involved in rearrangement processes though not necessarily the inversion described above. We will determine the sites of action of these endonucleases. Separately, we have found evidence for a process of recurrent deletion of DNA from regions flanking the mating-type (MAT) locus in all yeast species that are descended from the whole-genome duplication (WGD) event, causing continual transpositions of genes from beside MAT to other locations in the genome. In related computational work, we propose to investigate an hypothesis that evolutionary loss of the MATa2 transcriptional activator may have been the cause of the WGD event. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticschromosomesnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomesnatural sciencesbiological sciencesmolecular biology Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-AG-LS2 - ERC Advanced Grant - Genetics, Genomics, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Call for proposal ERC-2010-AdG_20100317 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant Host institution UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DUBLIN EU contribution € 1 229 999,14 Address BELFIELD 4 Dublin Ireland See on map Region Ireland Eastern and Midland Dublin Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Kenneth Henry Wolfe (Prof.) Administrative Contact Donal Doolan (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DUBLIN Ireland EU contribution € 1 229 999,14 Address BELFIELD 4 Dublin See on map Region Ireland Eastern and Midland Dublin Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Kenneth Henry Wolfe (Prof.) Administrative Contact Donal Doolan (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data THE PROVOST, FELLOWS, FOUNDATION SCHOLARS & THE OTHER MEMBERS OF BOARD, OF THE COLLEGE OF THE HOLY & UNDIVIDED TRINITY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH NEAR DUBLIN Participation ended Ireland EU contribution € 286 960,86 Address COLLEGE GREEN TRINITY COLLEGE D02 CX56 DUBLIN 2 See on map Region Ireland Eastern and Midland Dublin Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Deirdre Savage (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
