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Gene Expression


Despina Alexandraki IMBB Group Leader (Associate Professor, Univ. of Crete)
Email address alexandr@imbb.forth.gr
Phone +30-2810-391161
Fax +30-2810-391101
Lab web page http://www.imbb.forth.gr/alexandraki

 

We are interested on the mechanisms governing gene expression regulated by DNA-binding transcription factors and chromatin regulators in response to environmental changes. Our reference system is metalloregulated transcription in yeast, a major aspect of metal homeostasis. Specific DNA binding transcriptional regulators are functionally modulated by metal availability, Mac1 by copper and Aft1 by iron, by post-translational modifications and specific protein interactions.
We are investigating binary and multiprotein interactions with these factors revealing new protein roles and facts concerning the mechanisms of chromatin organization and transcription per se and new functional connections between transcription (metal-dependent or independent) and other cellular signalling pathways (DNA damage, oxidative stress, etc). S. cerevisiae provides the power of genetics, a complete genome sequence, a variety of tools and procedures for genome/proteome-wide analyses and many genes and processes conserved even in mammals.

 

Selected Publications

Gkouskou K., Voutsina A., Fragiadakis G.S., Alexandraki D. S. cerevisiae Rad9 recruitment in Mac1 regulated transcription in the absence of DNA damage, submitted for publication.

Voutsina A, Gkouskou K, Fragiadakis S. G, Alexandraki D. S. cerevisiae Hir1 protein is regulator of a transcriptional switch involved in copper homeostasis, submitted for publication.

Fragiadakis G.S., Tzamarias D. and Alexandraki D. (2004) Nhp6 facilitates Aft1 binding and Ssn6 recruitment both essential for FRE2 transcriptional activation. EMBO J. 23: 333-342.

Voutsina A., Fragiadakis G. S., Boutla A. and Alexandraki D. (2001) The second cysteine-rich domain of Mac1p is a potent transactivator that modulates DNA binding efficiency and functionality of the protein. FEBS Lett. 494: 38-43.