DNA-binding domain

that have been discovered; however, understanding the specific function of a particular motif is difficult. When analyzing a DNA sequence, it is challenging to see where in the segment the motifs occur. Thanks to bioinformatics, algorithms have been developed to assist in finding motifs. A sequence run through a program could look like this: Figure 1: example of motif in DNA sequence. {The locations of the motif are highlighted in green.) With an algorithm we can locate the motif much faster

the health and identity of an individual. The pathway in which the CREB binding protein gene is regulated reveals how intricate the system inside the nucleus of a cell actually is. Every plant and animal has its own set of genomic “instructions”, which it receives from one or more parents. This set of instructions is called deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and it is what allows every organism to be its own unique individual. DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell as a chromosome. A gene is a segment

proteins and phospholipids having unsaturated fatty acids. Radicals derived through peroxynitrite carries out one-electron reactions, form sulphilic and sulphonic acid derivatives (Quijano et al., 1997; Bonini and Augusto, 2001). Purine bases, present in DNA, are susceptible to oxidation and adduct formation

maturation and beyond (Clark et al., 1992). Post puberty estrogen is mainly synthesized and released from the ovaries in females. Through binding proteins or estrogen receptors (ER) found within the nucleus, estrogen is retained and affects specific target tissues throughout the body. Binding of estrogen to its receptor causes conformational change which in turn allows binding to chromatin and proceed with transcription of specific target genes (Murdoch

DNA polymerases are vital in how an organism can sustain life. DNA polymerases are enzymes that synthesize DNA molecules from deoxyribonucleotides and are accountable for DNA replication. They are absolutely critical for DNA replication and will typically work in sets so that they can create two identical sets of DNA strands from one single strand of DNA. DNA polymerase will catalyze the reaction: deoxynucleoside triphosphate + DNAn diphosphate + DNAn+1. DNA polymerases are extremely important because

impairment of these modifications (epi-mutations) may result in number of diseases. Thus, epigenetic regulation necessitates reconsidering the definition of phenotype, and it is already known that a particular cellular phenotype is not solely defined by the DNA sequence present in the

The catalytic subunit-Polα Polymerase α is the first mammalian polymerase detected. It is a member of the B-family of replicative DNA polymerases. Its primary role is to further extend the RNA primer by addition of deoxy-nucleotides (dNTPs) into a total of 20-25 nucleotides of RNA-DNA primer. Generally, replicative DNA polymerases, polymerize dNTPs by catalyzing nucleophilic attack of the 3’-hydroxyl group of the primer onto the α-phosphate of an incoming dNTP aligned to the template strand. The

The unique and primary proteins of DNA, the highly basic histone proteins have been found to be ubiquitous and conserved among eukaryotes. DNA and histones co-exist as a closely associated and highly coiled structure. The purpose of such a structural organization is to compact DNA; which would otherwise be too long to be accommodated within the restricted boundaries of a single cell. Core histones (H2A, H2B, H3 and H4) and Linker histones (H1) are the two types that this unique protein is composed

disorders: A role for the methyl CpG-binding protein in Rett syndrome. The genetics of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) rarely display a Mendelian mode of inheritance, and can result from a single rare gene mutation, more common variations in single nucleotide polymorphisms, or often a combination of these two factors in conjunction with environmental influences [1]. In contrast, epigenetic mechanisms are heritable changes in gene expression which do not change the DNA sequence [1]. Epigenetic changes

increases the binding affinity of FGF8 for RTKs, we will perform a binding assay using varying treatment times of GST-FGF8 followed by a GST-pull down and subsequent western blot for PTC cells harboring mutations with or