Seminar Series: Himasha Perera

Imagine a copy machine where you can make multiple copies of DNA. The usual office copy machine will require paper and color cartridges to make copies of another paper. Similarly, the DNA copy machine will require a DNA template as the paper and proteins as color cartridges. There is a myriad of protein cartridges utilized in this DNA copy machine. Among these, two protein cartridges play an instrumental role in making copies of DNA; namely, DNA Helicase and DNA Polymerase. The main focus of my research is to understand how these two proteins interact with each other and also with DNA to ensure efficient and faithful copying of DNA. Additionally, my research focuses on how malfunctioning in these two protein cartridges can affect the proper functioning of the DNA copy machine. Like Legos are used for modelling, my research employs bacteria as a model organism to understand the detailed processes inside the DNA copy machine. The DNA copy process is conserved throughout all domains of life. Therefore, the information rendered by a bacterial DNA copy machine sets the foundation for understanding the process that occurs in higher order organisms.