Friday, October 29, 2004
| Title |
DNA Topology: Experiments and Analysis |
| Speaker |
De Witt Sumners
Robert O. Lawton Professor and Chair
Department of Mathematics
Florida State University |
| Time |
2:00-3:00 p.m. |
| Place |
PHY 130 |
Abstract
Cellular DNA is a long, thread-like molecule with remarkably complex topology.
Enzymes which manipulate the geometry and topology of cellular DNA perform many
important cellular processes (including segregation of daughter chromosomes, gene
regulation, DNA repair, and generation of antibody diversity). Some enzymes pass
DNA through itself via enzyme-bridged transient breaks in the DNA; other enzymes
break the DNA apart and reconnect it to different ends. In the topological
approach to enzymology, circular DNA is incubated with an enzyme, producing an
enzyme signature in the form of DNA knots and links. By observing the changes in
DNA geometry (supercoiling) and topology (knotting and linking) due to enzyme
action, the enzyme binding and mechanism can often be characterized. This talk
will discuss topological models for DNA strand passage and exchange in
site-specific DNA recombination, and use of the spectrum of DNA knots to infer
bacteriophage DNA packing in viral capsids.
Friday, September 3, 2004
| Title |
TBA |
| Speaker |
TBA |
| Time |
2:00-3:00 p.m. |
| Place |
SCA 202 |
Abstract
TBA