Invited Speaker
Craig Benham
Roles of Topologically Driven DNA Structural Transitions in Regulation
We have developed computational methods that evaluate the destabilization properties of superhelical DNA molecules having any specified base sequence, including complete chromosomes. We have used these methods to analyze the stress-induced duplex destabilization (SIDD) properties of many complete prokaryotic genomes, as well as a wide variety of eukaryotic and viral sequences. Our results have illuminated previously unanticipated roles of SIDD in a variety of regulatory processes, including a new regulatory strategy governing transcription from specific promoters, initiation of replication in viruses and yeast, and scaffold-matrix attachment in eukaryotes. These examples will be described as time allows, and their application to the design of episomal transfection vectors will be shown.