Yulia V. Surovtseva
Hometown:
Novosibirsk, Russia
Undergraduate Degree:
Novosibirsk State University, Russia
Additional Degrees:
Ph.D in Biochemistry, Texas A&M University
Research Synopsis:
My research is focused on Arabidopsis telomere-associated proteins. I am particularly interested in POT1 proteins that in other organisms provide chromosome end protection and regulate telomere length and other aspects of telomere biology. It was surprising for us that unlike many other organisms, which harbor a single POT1 gene, Arabidopsis encoded three POT1-like proteins. Even more surprising, our genetic and biochemical analysis revealed that neither of these proteins is essential for chromosome end protection. Moreover, neither of Arabidopsis POT1 proteins associates with telomeric DNA in vitro. Instead, they interact with telomerase, an enzyme that can extend telomeres. We studied the role of Arabidopsis POT1a protein in detail and found out that it is required for telomere elongation by telomerase in vivo. We are currently investigating the roles of POT1b and POT1c in telomere biology.
Since POT1 proteins are not essential for chromosome end protection in Arabidopsis, we were trying to identify which proteins cap the ends of chromosomes in plants. We took genetic approach to identify a novel gene that is Critical for the Integrity of Telomeres (CIT1). cit1 mutants display an immediate and very profound telomere deprotection phenotype, resulting in massive genome instability. Importantly, the homolog of this protein is present in vertebrates, including humans, but it has not been characterized so far. This finding is very exciting since we potentially identified a novel essential telomere component. I am currently working on the characterization of this protein in plants and have began a collaboration with Dr. Carolyn Price to study the CIT1 gene in chicken cells, a model system which will allow us to understand the DNA damage response and cell death in these mutants.