# MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF DNA TRANSPORTATION

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · 1991 · $161,732

## Abstract

This research will continue, in several new directions, the present
research program with the goal of gaining a detailed understanding of
the molecular mechanisms of the transposition process, and its control,
specifically of insertion sequence IS1.  Insights gained to date put us
in a position to answer very specific questions about the essential
conponents of the transposition complex, the control of gene expression
in IS1, and the regulation of transposition itself.  The program of
research has the additional long range goal of gaining a mechanistic
understanding of the full range of recombinational events induced by the
insertion sequence IS1, the molecular processes by which they occur, and
the mechanisms for their regulation.  Several basic molecular processes
that are central to IS1 transposition promise to be novel and important.
Among these are the set of key molecular events in transposition and
control of gene expression that take place at the ends of IS1 (all
within about 30 base-pairs), and the possibility that translational
frameshifting is a critical regulatory event that takes place in the
center of IS1.

These mechanisms, appear to be different from those of other
well-studied transposable elements like TnlO, Tn3, Tn7, Mu phage, IS5
and IS50.  IS1 is one of the most widespread of transposable elements,
and elucidation of the basic molecular mechanisms is essential to an
understanding of the IS-mediated assembly of genes into plasmids and
dissemination of genetic information in the bacterial world.

The proposed project aims to study the apparent frameshifting that
produces a fused InsA-B protein, which may be the ISI transposase.  All
the IS1-encoded components of the transposition complex, essential or
accessory, will be characterized.  The binding properties of the
repressor (InsA) and the (putative) transposase will be studied via
mutational analysis, of both the proteins and the DNA sites, and by
physical methods.  A new genetic system for the study of IS1 will be
developed, which permits selection and screening for mutants in the
transpostion pathway.  Finally, new results with the fusion protein will
be used to develop an in vitro system for IS1 transpostion, which will
be used to dissect the process biochemically.  Detailed molecular models
of IS1 transpostion will be contructed from these results and tested
further.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3128458
- **Project number:** 2R01AI019036-09
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** G88KLJR3KYT5
- **Principal Investigator:** MIRIAM M SUSSKIND
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $161,732
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1982-04-01 → 1996-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3128458

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3128458, MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF DNA TRANSPORTATION (2R01AI019036-09). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3128458. Licensed CC0.

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