Christopher W. Lawrence, Ph.D.

See information for Patients. Viewing information for Researchers.

Our work is concerned with investigating DNA-damage induced mutagenesis, and the replication of damaged DNA which gives rise to these mutations, in budding yeast and E. coli. Such replication is used when unrepaired damage delays the progress of replication forks, and depends on a set of proteins at least partly different from those needed for replication on undamaged templates. Although only a minor cellular mechanism for coping with DNA damage, it is a major source of mutations. Understanding this process may therefore provide novel strategies for preventing cancer, since mutations commonly contribute to the development of this disease. To this end, we have cloned and sequenced yeast genes concerned with mutagenesis and, in collaboration with David Hinkle (Biology Department) examined the enzymatic properties of their purified products. In particular, we are investigating the properties of a new DNA polymerase, Pol zeta, a complex formed by the products of the REV3 and REV7 genes. The sole function of Pol zeta appears to be replication past damage sites in the DNA template, which it performs more efficiently than the major replicases. We are also investigating the properties of the REV1 gene product, which possesses a novel deoxycytidyl transferase activity that is required for replication past abasic lesions.

Studies with E. coli. carried out in collaboration with Roger Woodgate (NIH) and Myron Goodman (USC), are concerned with understanding the in vivo functions of the UmuD'C protein complex, which plays a crucial role in replication past DNA damage in this organism. In particular, we are attempting to identify the DNA polymerase holoenzyme subunits with which the complex interacts, and to determine the relative roles of DNA polymerase II and III. These questions are being investigated by transforming different mutant strains with single stranded vectors that carry a specified mutagenic lesion at a defined site. Such vectors are powerful tools for this purpose because they provide direct and independent estimates of the frequency of replication past the lesion and of the frequency with which mutations are induced by this process.

Current Appointments

• Professor Emeritus - Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics (SMD)

Education
PhD Genetics	UK-U Birmingham Med Sch	1959
BS Botany, All Other	UK - Non-Medical School	1956

Recent Journal Articles
Showing the 5 most recent journal articles. (110 available)
Lawrence, C. W.;. "Following the RAD6 pathway". DNA Repair (Amst) 6 (2007): 676-86.
Hoffman, P. D.; Wang, H.; Lawrence, C. W.; Iwai, S.; Hanaoka, F.; Hays, J. B.;. "Binding of MutS mismatch repair protein to DNA containing UV photoproducts, "mismatched" opposite Watson--Crick and novel nucleotides, in different DNA sequence contexts". DNA Repair (Amst) 4 (2005): 983-93.
Gibbs, P. E.; McDonald, J.; Woodgate, R.; Lawrence, C. W.;. "The relative roles in vivo of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pol eta, Pol zeta, Rev1 protein and Pol32 in the bypass and mutation induction of an abasic site, T-T (6-4) photoadduct and T-T cis-syn cyclobutane dimer". Genetics 169 (2005): 575-82.
Ozgenc, A. I.; Szekeres, E. S.; Lawrence, C. W.;. "In vivo evidence for a recA-independent recombination process in Escherichia coli that permits completion of replication of DNA containing UV damage in both strands". J Bacteriol 187 (2005): 1974-84.
Zhang, H.; Lawrence, C. W.;. "The error-free component of the RAD6/RAD18 DNA damage tolerance pathway of budding yeast employs sister-strand recombination". Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 102 (2005): 15954-9.