Moving Towards Crystallizing Rev1 Mutans to Investigate the Structure

ISLAND CURE is a new research collaboration that focuses on using physics techniques and apparatuses to perform biochemical measurements. One of the projects of the ISLAND CURE is to investigate X-ray crystal structures of Rev1, a Y family DNA polymerase. In order to understand the unique mechanism by which it replicates DNA, we investigated the structures of Rev1 with specific amino acid mutations. I have taken a leadership role in this group where I served as a research assistant using a post-doctoral model of lab management. The responsibilities of this role include performing not just biochemical tasks, but physics based projects, ranging from transforming bacteria to constructing an inverted microscope stage. The post-doctoral model is a potential model for professors with heavy teaching loads to overcome the time constraints for implementing CUREs in their classes.