Distant sequence regions of JBP1 contribute to J-DNA binding.

Base-J (β-D-glucopyranosyloxymethyluracil) is a modified DNA nucleotide that replaces 1% of thymine in kinetoplastid flagellates. The biosynthesis and maintenance of base-J depends on the base-J-binding protein 1 (JBP1) that has a thymidine hydroxylase domain and a J-DNA-binding domain (JDBD). How the thymidine hydroxylase domain synergizes with the JDBD to hydroxylate thymine in specific genomic sites, maintaining base-J during semi-conservative DNA replication, remains unclear.

Cell cycle dynamics of lamina-associated DNA.

In mammalian interphase nuclei, more than one thousand large genomic regions are positioned at the nuclear lamina (NL). These lamina-associated domains (LADs) are involved in gene regulation and may provide a backbone for the folding of interphase chromosomes. Little is known about the dynamics of LADs during interphase, in particular at the onset of G1 phase and during DNA replication.

Recombinant cloning strategies for protein expression.

A variety of methods to create specific constructs for protein expression, in a broad range of organisms, are available nowadays. Restriction enzyme-free, ligation-independent and recombinase-based cloning methods have enabled high-throughput protein expression for structural and functional studies. These methods are also instrumental for modification of target genes including gene truncations, site-specific mutagenesis and domain swapping.