Functional genomics of antioxidant defence mechanisms and DNA repair: Relevance for aging and neurological disease.

The present prosject seeks to bring together a range of novel technologies and multidisciplinary expertise to broaden our understanding of DNA repair mechanisms. Specifically we will explore the hypothesis that deficient DNA repair plays a key pathogenet ic role in neurological disease and in age rlated brain dysfunction. With all the genome sequences now available, the goal is to identify the entire complement of DNA repair proteins and genes within organisms. This will be approached by high throughput methods including bioinformatics searches, proteomics analysis, and array technology. We will also elucidate the functional role of new repair genes and proteins by structural analysis, protein interaction studies, mutant analysis and modern imaging tec hniques. The ultimate goal is to develop new strategies for preventing neurological disease and promoting "successful aging".