A position is available at NIH to study the process of
retrotransposition in the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe.
Genetics, molecular biology, and biochemistry will be used to identify
interactions between the yeast cell and the retrovirus-like element Tf1, a
retrotransposon that encodes functional protease, reverse transcriptase,
and integrase proteins.
This lab has developed a genetic system to study Tf1 transposition
using an in vivo assay. We have isolated several classes of mutant pombe
strains that are unable to support transposition. The characterization of
these mutations may lead to a better understanding of retroelement
propagation. Two recent publications of ours are listed below.
Levin, HL, EMBO J 1993;12:4885-4895
Levin, HL, EMBO J 1992;11:1145-1153
Applications may be sent to
Henry Levin
NIH
Building, 6B, room 220
Bethesda, MD 20892-2780
