Speaker
Description
Homology search is a means through which DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) explore the genome for sequences of lossless repair. As this search process is fundamental to the relationship between DNA damage and disease, a better understanding the underlying mechanisms is crucial. In this work, we use an effective entropic bead-spring polymer chain model to simulate the spatiotemporal dynamics of the yeast genome during interphase. Through a combination of mathematical modeling and experimental work, we explore the effects of inducing damage within a chromosome segment that, previous to the damage event, occupies a cross-linked region organized by transient structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) complexes. Using novel computational and visualization techniques, we investigate the particular role of these transient crosslinks in driving local chromatin dynamics, repair mechanisms, and substructure.
