SVIBOR - Project code: 1-08-269

MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Strossmayerov trg 4, HR - 10000 ZAGREB
tel.: +385 1 459 44 44, fax: +385 1 459 44 69
E-mail: ured@znanost.hr

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Project code: 1-08-269


STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF SATELLITE DNAs AND HETEROCHROMATIN


Main researcher: UGARKOVIĆ, ĐURĐICA (3874)


Assistants
Type of research: basic
Duration from: 01/01/91. to 12/31/93.
Papers on project (total): 52
Papers on project quoted in Current Contents: 15
Institution name: Institut "Ruđer Bošković", Zagreb (98)
Department/Institute: Department of Molecular Genetics
Address: Bijenička 54
City: 10000 - Zagreb, Croatia
Communication
Phone: 385 (0)41 4561083
Fax: 385 (0)41 425497
E-mail: Ugarkov@OLIMP.IRB.HR
Phone: 385 (0)
Fax: 385 (0)41425497
Summary: Constitutive heterochromatin and satellite DNAs are present in genomes of all eukaryotic organisms, but their role is relatively unknown. Our preliminary investigations show that satellite DNA of insect species Tenebrio molitor, due to its high abundance and conservation represents good model for study of structure, organization and function of satellite DNA and heterochromatin. The study comprises tertiary structure analyses of satellite DNA from T. molitor and related species, as well as satellite DNAs from other different organisms, using molecular genetic, biochemical and biophysical approach. The influence of 3-D structure on positioning of nucleosomes in heterochromatin will be studied as well as proteins which specifically bind to satellite DNA. The other part of investigation will include study of satellite DNA organization in T. molitor and relatives, i.e. the size of the blocks containing tandemly repeated monomers. The abundance of satellite DNAs and their organization in related species will be determined. The obtained results will contribute to better understanding of biological processes, as nucleosome formation, heterochromatin condensation and genome evolution. This investigation will also contribute to better knowledge of heterochromatin organization at molecular biological level and explain a number of processes related to satellite DNA and heterochromatin.

Keywords: satellite DNA, heterochromatin, DNA curvature, nucleosome, chromosome, genome organization, evolution, mutational processes, Insecta, Coleoptera

Research goals: The target of this study is analysis of molecular genetic structure, organization and potential biological function of satellite DNAs and heterochromatin using as a model organism insect Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera) and related species. The structural studies will be directed to the analysis of threedimensional structure of satellite DNAs caused by nucleotide sequence. It will be determined if there exists regularity in the conservation of 3-D structures among different satellite DNAs and potential influence of the structure on the formation and nucleosome positioning. Specific nonhistone proteins having affinity to satellite DNA and their role on heterochromatin condensation will be analyzed. The distribution and organization of satellite DNAs in some related species will be studied. We expect that research on satellite DNAs and heterochromatin of T. molitor and related species will contribute to a better understanding of eukaryotic genome organization. Obtained results will enable construction of an evolutionary model which could explain origin and distribution of analyzed satellite DNAs among different species. Also the benefit of this research work will be better understanding of molecular biology of T. molitor and related organisms which are well known pests in storehouses. This will potentially increase possibilities for more successful control of their population.

COOPERATION - PROJECTS


  1. Name of project: JEP-4297-92 Integration of modern cytogenetic and molecular genetic methods in education and their application
    Name of institution: University of Balearic Islands
    City: 07071 - Palma de Mallorca, Spain

  2. Name of project: JEP-4297-92 Integration of modern cytogenetic and molecular genetic methods in education and their application
    Name of institution: Kemijski inštitut
    City: 61115 - Ljubljana, Slovenija

COOPERATION - INSTITUTIONS


  1. Name of institution: Centro de Investigacion y Desarrollo
    Type of institution: University/Faculty
    Type of cooperation: Joint publishing of scientific papers
    City: 08034 - Barcelona, Španjolska

  2. Name of institution: Institut de Biocenotique Experimentale des Agrosystemes
    Type of institution: University/Faculty
    Type of cooperation: Systematic exchange of information
    City: 37200 - Tours, Francuska

  3. Name of institution: Poljoprivredni fakultet, Zaštita bilja
    Type of institution: Economical/Production
    Type of cooperation: Occasional exchange of information
    City: 10000 - Zagreb, Croatia

  4. Name of institution: University of Balearic Islands
    Type of institution: University/Faculty
    Type of cooperation: Joint publishing of scientific papers
    City: 07071 - Palma de Mallorca, Spain

  5. Name of institution: Kemijski Institut
    Type of institution: State institute
    Type of cooperation: Joint project
    City: 61115 - Ljubljana, Slovenija

  6. Name of institution: Johannes Gutenberg Universitat, Mainz
    Type of institution: University/Faculty
    Type of cooperation: Occasional exchange of information
    City: Mainz, Njemacka
Other information about the project.
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