Name:Amy L. Altman, Ph.D. Undergraduate School: Miami University, Oxford, OH, BA in Microbiology Graduate Schools: Miami University, Oxford, OH, MS in Microbiology Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, Ph.D. in Molecular Biology Current Position: Director of Extramural Research, Luminex Corp., Austin, TX Previous Research Interests: I am interested in elucidating the mechanisms involved in the initiation of DNA synthesis is mammalian cells. Using a PCR-based nascent strand abundance assay, We have determined that a 5.8 kb DNA fragment containing A 5.8 kb DNA fragment containing a high frequency initiation region (IR) from the hamster DHFR locus, ori-beta is active at multiple ectopic chromosomal locations in hamster cells (Altman and Fanning, Mol. Cell. Biol. 21:1098, 2001). Five non-redundant sequence elements identified by deletion analysis, including an AT-rich element, a bent DNA region and a RIP60 binding site, were required for full initiation activity of ectopic ori-�?�. An AT-rich region from the human lamin B2 IR substituted for the ori-beta AT-rich element to restore ori-beta initiation activity whereas replacement with a similar sized stuffer DNA fragment did not. In the context of ori-beta, start sites in the lamin B2 AT-rich element were not observed, even though this element contains the mapped lamin B2 IR. The ability of a DNA element from a human IR to function in a hamster origin of replication suggests that a hamster origin might function in human cells. Indeed, the ectopic 5.8 kb ori-beta DNA fragment was sufficient to direct initiation in human (Hela and HCT116) cells. Moreover, mutational analysis confirmed that the sequences in the AT-rich element were also required for ori-beta activity in the human cell background. Taken together, the results suggest that specific sequences in the AT-rich element are required for efficient ori-beta activity and that elements from different mammalian origins may be functionally conserved. These results provide evidence of modular sequence elements required for mammalian DNA replication initiation. Continued study of this and other mammalian origins should provide additional information on the composition and architecture of mammalian origins. In addition, the identified elements are being investigated for potential protein/DNA interactions at the origin using the chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Name: Bob Ott, Ph.D. Undergraduate School: Illinois Benedictine College (now known as Benedictine University) Graduate Schools: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, Ph.D. in Molecular Biology Current Position: ??? Previous Research Interests: His first post doc was with Ellen Fanning working on various aspects of T-Antigen and it's interactions with SV40 replication machinery. His second post doc position was with Dr. George Hill in which he is studying the effect of inhibitors on a trypanosome alternative oxidase (TAO). The goal is to identify chemical agents that could be used to treat trypanosome infections in cattle and humans. Name: Peijun Yan, Ph.D. Undergraduate School: Shanghai Second Medical University, China Graduate Schools: Fudan University, China Previous Research Interests: I am studying on human DNA helicase B (HDHB) and Rad52 now. I try to find HDHB function in detail on DNA repair and find the functional interactions between HDHB and Rad52. Name: Guoqi Liu, Ph.D. Undergraduate School: Graduate Schools: Current Research Interests: Name:Vitaly Klimovich Undergraduate School: Bryan College, Dayton, TN. Graduate School: Vanderbilt University Current Position: Corning Life Science Name: Xiaorong Zhao, Ph.D. Undergraduate School: Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University Graduate Schools: Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University Current Position: LabCorp Laboratory Corporation of America. Name: Haijiang Zhang, Ph.D. Undergraduate School: Bejing Normal University Graduate School: Bejing Normal University Name: Jeannine Gerhardt, Ph.D. Graduate School: FSU University Jena, Germany    M.S.    1996-2001    Biochemistry                                LMU University Munich, Germany       2001-2005    Molecular biology