Protein - DNA interactions at atomic levels

The project aims at exploring protein-DNA interactions at atomic levels using novel DNA-binding proteins. Protein targets will be selected from the genomes of the extremophiles Deinococcus radiodurans and Vibrio salmonicida and produced recombinant in qua ntities necessary for structural and functional studies. Interactions will be studied using three-dimensional structures of protein-DNA complexes, gel shift assays and association energy measurements using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) techniques and Is othermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) in combination with Linear Interaction Energy (LIE) calculations. Some proteins from extremophilic organisms possess unique properties of industrial interest. Thus another goal is to identify DNA-interacting proteins w ith a commercial potential. The project also aims to expand and refine methods for efficient expression, purification and crystallisation technology. Another important aspect of the project is to benefit from a two-way exchange of personnel, techniques, i deas and general expertise between the Norwegian Structural Biology Centre (NORSTRUCT) and the Macromolecular Crystallography Group at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF)