The work described in this thesis deals with characterization of DNA binding by the BRCT domain of the large subunit of RFC. Replication Factor C (RFC) is a five protein complex involved in... Show moreThe work described in this thesis deals with characterization of DNA binding by the BRCT domain of the large subunit of RFC. Replication Factor C (RFC) is a five protein complex involved in initiating and regulating new DNA synthesis. The first half of the thesis describes region of the RFC and structural determinants of DNA required for productive protein-DNA interaction. The second half describes three-dimensional structure determination of the protein-DNA complex, which consists of the BRCT region of the RFC and doubled stranded DNA. The resulting structure based on the data from NMR and mutagenesis reveals structural conservations of few amino acids among the members of BRCT domain superfamily, which are known to bind either phosphorylated peptide or DNA. The work may help us to identify other potential DNA binding BRCT domains. Show less
