Previously, we have demonstrated that a DNA helicase-like protein, termed RTEL (regulator of telomere length) is essential for the maintenance of genomic stability. RTEL deficiency induced telomere loss and genomic instability, leading to embryonic lethality. However, the role of RTEL in these biological pathways is largely unknown. To uncover RTEL’s function(s), we applied several approaches to identify the proteins that could interact with RTEL. Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA), the key regulator of the replication fork, was found to be a strong candidate. In this study, we have demonstrated the interaction between RTEL and PCNA. Further characterization of the interaction between RTEL and PCNA revealed that the interaction is important for maintaining genomic stability. Due to the essential role of PCNA in nucleic acid metabolism as a component of the replication and repair machinery, its interaction with RTEL could be the key to the role of RTEL in the maintenance of genomic stability and mouse development. Along with a bioinformatics approach, we have employed several biochemical approaches to identify the interaction of PCNA with RTEL. Using co-immunoprecipitation, we have demonstrated that RTEL can specifically interact with PCNA. A PCR-based mutagenesis method was used to mutate the PCNA-interacting motif (PIP) in RTEL. Further we have demonstrated that several key amino acids in the PIP motif are responsible for mediating RTEL/PCNA interaction by using co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence studies. Using a gene-targeting approach, we have specifically knocked-in a mutant RTEL with a mutation in PIP motif into mouse genome. Thus we have developed a transgenic mouse model to study the significance of the interaction between RTEL/PCNA in vivo. This study not only validated the interaction of RTEL with PCNA, via the PIP box, but also generated the RTEL PIP mutant alleles for further functional analysis by transgenic approaches. We have employed biochemical and cytogenetic studies to characterize the phenotypes in RtelI1169A/I1169A mouse. This is the first direct genetic approach to address whether PCNA is an important downstream mediator of RTEL’s function in the regulation of genomic integrity

Previously, we have demonstrated that a DNA helicase-like protein, termed RTEL (regulator of telomere length) is essential for the maintenance of genomic stability. RTEL deficiency induced telomere loss and genomic instability, leading to embryonic lethality. However, the role of RTEL in these biological pathways is largely unknown. To uncover RTEL’s function(s), we applied several approaches to identify the proteins that could interact with RTEL. Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA), the key regulator of the replication fork, was found to be a strong candidate. In this study, we have demonstrated the interaction between RTEL and PCNA. Further characterization of the interaction between RTEL and PCNA revealed that the interaction is important for maintaining genomic stability. Due to the essential role of PCNA in nucleic acid metabolism as a component of the replication and repair machinery, its interaction with RTEL could be the key to the role of RTEL in the maintenance of genomic stability and mouse development. Along with a bioinformatics approach, we have employed several biochemical approaches to identify the interaction of PCNA with RTEL. Using co-immunoprecipitation, we have demonstrated that RTEL can specifically interact with PCNA. A PCR-based mutagenesis method was used to mutate the PCNA-interacting motif (PIP) in RTEL. Further we have demonstrated that several key amino acids in the PIP motif are responsible for mediating RTEL/PCNA interaction by using co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence studies. Using a gene-targeting approach, we have specifically knocked-in a mutant RTEL with a mutation in PIP motif into mouse genome. Thus we have developed a transgenic mouse model to study the significance of the interaction between RTEL/PCNA in vivo. This study not only validated the interaction of RTEL with PCNA, via the PIP box, but also generated the RTEL PIP mutant alleles for further functional analysis by transgenic approaches. We have employed biochemical and cytogenetic studies to characterize the phenotypes in RtelI1169A/I1169A mouse. This is the first direct genetic approach to address whether PCNA is an important downstream mediator of RTEL’s function in the regulation of genomic integrity

Bibliography: leaves 120-138. / xi, 138, [41] leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Characterises the 186 coliphage site-specific integration reaction in vitro with the expectation that it could be used in mammalian systems to insert genes or modify existing ones, to provide an alternative method for the production of transgenic livestock species. The analyzed system is the temperate bacteriophage 186. The in-vitro requirements for 186 integrative site-specific recombination were investigated. In vivo investigations were conducted whereby active 186-intasomes were microinjected into fertilised mouse eggs containing genomic copies of 186-attB. The 186 system has not been shown to work in vivo. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Biochemistry 1999?

Bibliography: leaves 120-138. / xi, 138, [41] leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Characterises the 186 coliphage site-specific integration reaction in vitro with the expectation that it could be used in mammalian systems to insert genes or modify existing ones, to provide an alternative method for the production of transgenic livestock species. The analyzed system is the temperate bacteriophage 186. The in-vitro requirements for 186 integrative site-specific recombination were investigated. In vivo investigations were conducted whereby active 186-intasomes were microinjected into fertilised mouse eggs containing genomic copies of 186-attB. The 186 system has not been shown to work in vivo. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Biochemistry 1999?

Title page, table of contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library. / The enzyme 25-hydroxyvitamin D la-hydroxylase or CYP27Bl is the key enzyme in the two-step activation process by which vitamin D is converted to its biologically active form 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25D). The actions of a number of regulators on the renal CYP27B1 enzyme activity have been recognized for some years, although the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown and the DNA regions involved in the in vivo regulation of gene expression by these factors have not been delineated as yet. In order to identify the regulatory regions through which these factors control CYP27B1 expression in the kidney in vivo and to study the spatial and temporal expression of the CYP27B1 gene during development, a transgenic mouse model was established. This model was developed using pro-nuclear injection of a DNA construct containing the firefly luciferase reporter gene under the control of the 1541 bp region of the human CYP27B1 promoter. Following pro-nuclear injection, three transgenic founders were obtained and bred to establish three independent transgenic lines. In all three lines, a very similar expression pattern of the luciferase reporter gene was detected. High levels of luciferase activity were detected in the kidney, brain, testis, skin and bone. Lower levels of luciferase activity were detected in heart, lung, liver, distal small intestine, skeletal muscle and spleen extracts. No reporter gene expression could be detected in the proximal small intestine. This animal model was used to identify the ability of the 1541 bp promoter region of the CYP27B1 gene to respond in the kidney to a number of physiological challenges including dietary calcium, vitamin D and the immunomodulator LPS. In addition, the temporal expression of the reporter gene was studied by sacrificing animals at 6 different time points (2, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 64 weeks of age). The functionality of the CYP27B1 promoter was verified by comparing the regulation of the expression of the reporter gene with that of the endogenous CYP27B1 gene. The expression of endogenous CYP27B1 mRNA levels was therefore determined using Real-Time RT-PCR. The expression of the reporter gene and the endogenous CYP27B1 mRNA levels in the kidney were increased during early development (2 week old animals) and fell with increasing age. Reporter gene expression and CYP27BI mRNA levels were down-regulated in response to increasing amounts of dietary calcium in a dosedependent manner. Vitamin D-deficiency resulted in an increase in both the reporter gene and CYP27B1 expression. However, the increase in CYP27B1 mRNA levels was substantially higher than the increase in reporter gene expression, suggesting that other regulatory elements are required to maximize the effect of vitamin D-deficiency. LPS administration did not affect the expression of either luciferase or the endogenous CYP27B1 gene in the kidney. Immunohistochemistry was used to identify the cell-specific location of the luciferase and the endogenous CYP27B1 protein in the kidney in kidney sections of vitamin D-deficient animals. Both luciferase protein and the endogenous CYP27B1 protein were identified in the proximal tubular cells of the kidney. The regulation of the expression of the reporter gene was also studied in the transgenic mouse model in a number of extra-renal tissues that have been shown to express CYP27Bl and to be responsive to 1,25D. These tissues include heart, liver, lung, femora, bone marrow, skeletal muscle, testis, skin, brain, spleen and proximal and distal small intestine. Although in most tissues, the expression of luciferase was highest in the 2 week old animals and fell with increasing age, in the testis, the expression levels were low in the developing animals and increased with increasing age. No physiological significant effects were detected in any of the extra-renal tissues examined in response to dietary calcium and vitamin D, suggesting that these factors control CYP27Bl expression in a kidney-specific manner. In addition, no physiologically significant effect of the LPS administration could be detected in these tissues. Future studies employing transgenic animals which express transgenic constructs containing both the CYP27Bl promoter and upstream and/or intronic sequences are required to identify the factors that regulate CYP27Bl expression in the different tissues and to delineate the DNA regulatory regions through which these factors exert their effects in vivo. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1140412 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, 2004

Thesis (M. Med. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007.

Thesis(M.S.)--Auburn University, 2005. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Biochemistry 1999? / Bibliography: leaves 120-138.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Case Western Reserve University, 2008. / [School of Medicine] Department of Neurosciences. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Tasmania, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.