A major goal of the research conducted in my laboratory is to study the relationship between mutations and cancer. We employ genetic screens to identify amino acid residues of Pol that function in promoting the fidelity of DNA synthesis. We also study the cellular role of Pol and have shown that Pol participates in base excision repair and in the process of meiosis. We are pursuing these studies to determine how Pol makes errors during base excision repair and to identify the role of Pol in meiosis. Pol IgG stains discrete foci on mouse chromosome homologs during prophase I of meiosis in mouse spermatocytes.
Mouse spermatocytes in early prophase.
Nucleus in mid-pachynema. Merged image of Pol and Cor I-stained nucleus. Nucleus in late pachynema and proceeding into diplonema. Merged image of Pol and Cor I-stained nucleus. J.B. A genetic system to identify DNA polymerase mutator mutants.