Identification of the rate determining step in DNA photolyase
Presentation Type
Abstract
Faculty Advisor
Yvonne Gindt
Access Type
Event
Start Date
25-4-2025 9:00 AM
End Date
25-4-2025 9:59 AM
Description
Photolyase is an enzyme that repairs UV-induced DNA damage using a mechanism by which photolyase absorbs blue light to trigger light-induced electron transfer to the crosslinked pyrimidine dimers in DNA, reversing UV-induced damage. It is generally assumed that absorption of blue light is the rate limiting step in the mechanism. We have evidence that assumption may not be correct; the substrate binding or product release may be the rate determining step in the mechanism. We are investigating the nature of the rate determining step by changing the viscosity of the reaction mixture in our DNA assay to measure the effect on the turnover number for the protein.
Identification of the rate determining step in DNA photolyase
Photolyase is an enzyme that repairs UV-induced DNA damage using a mechanism by which photolyase absorbs blue light to trigger light-induced electron transfer to the crosslinked pyrimidine dimers in DNA, reversing UV-induced damage. It is generally assumed that absorption of blue light is the rate limiting step in the mechanism. We have evidence that assumption may not be correct; the substrate binding or product release may be the rate determining step in the mechanism. We are investigating the nature of the rate determining step by changing the viscosity of the reaction mixture in our DNA assay to measure the effect on the turnover number for the protein.
Comments
Poster presentation at the 2025 Student Research Symposium.