Welcome to Michael R. Sawaya's Home Page
My research involves x-ray crystallographic studies of DNA metabolism, including the enzymes helicase/primase, dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and DNA polymerase beta (polB). Past projects include construction of a crystallographic movie of DHFR, depicting loop and subdomain conformational movements during one turnover of substrate. Here is a sample of some of my work:
 
Crystallographic Tutorials- Software Tutorials to Aid You in Determining Your Crystal Structure CHEM M230D Course Materials -Structural Molecular Biology Laboratory  DHFR the MOVIE! Polymerase Beta the MOVIE!

References

Crystal structure of the helicase domain from the replicative helicase-primase of bacteriophage T7 Sawaya MR, Guo S, Tabor S, Richardson CC, Ellenberger T. Cell. 1999 Oct 15;99(2):167-77.

Crystal structure of T7 gene 4 ring helicase indicates a mechanism for sequential hydrolysis of nucleotides. Singleton MR, Sawaya MR, Ellenberger T, Wigley DB Cell 2000 Jun 9;101(6):589-600.

An open and closed case for all polymerases. Doublie S, Sawaya MR, Ellenberger T. Structure Fold Des. 1999 Feb 15;7(2):R31-5. Review.

Crystal structures of human DNA polymerase beta complexed with gapped and nicked DNA: evidence for an induced fit mechanism. Sawaya MR, Prasad R, Wilson SH, Kraut J, Pelletier H. Biochemistry. 1997 Sep 16;36(37):11205-15.

Crystal Structure of Rat DNA Polymerase Beta: Evidence for a Common Polymerase Mechanism M. R. Sawaya, H. Pelletier, A. Kumar, S. H. Wilson, & J. Kraut (1994) Science Vol. 264, 1930-1935.

Structures of Ternary Complexes of Rat DNA Polymerase Beta, a DNA Template-Primer, and ddCTP H. Pelletier, M. R. Sawaya, A. Kumar, S. H. Wilson, & J. Kraut (1994) Science Vol. 264, 1891-1903.

Enzyme-DNA Interactions Required for Efficient Nucleotide Incorporation and Discrimination in Human DNA Polymerase W. A. Beard, W. P. Osheroff, R. Prasad, M. R. Sawaya, M. Jaju, T. G. Wood, J. Kraut, T. A. Kunkel, S. H. Wilson (1996) Journal of Biological Chemistry Volume 271, Number 21, pp. 12141-12144.

Crystal Structures of Human DNA Polymerase Complexed with DNA: Implications for Catalytic Mechanism, Processivity, and Fidelity Huguette Pelletier, Michael R. Sawaya, William Wolfle, Samuel H. Wilson, and Joseph Kraut (1996a) Biochemistry, Volume 35, Issue 39, pp. 12742- 12761.

A Structural Basis for Metal Ion Mutagenicity and Nucleotide Selectivity in Human DNA Polymerase Huguette Pelletier, Michael R. Sawaya, William Wolfle, Samuel H. Wilson, and Joseph Kraut (1996b) Biochemistry, Volume 35, Issue 39, p 12762-1277.

Characterization of the Metal Ion Binding Helix-Hairpin-Helix Motifs in Human DNA Polymerase by X-ray Structural Analysis Huguette Pelletier and Michael R. Sawaya (1996c) Biochemistry, Volume 35, Issue 39, p 12778-12787. 

Isomorphous crystal structures of Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase complexed with folate, deazafolate, and 5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolate: mechanistic implications V. M. Reyes, M. R. Sawaya, K. A. Brown, & J. Kraut. Biochemistry, Vol. 34, pp. 2710-2723, (1995).

Loop and Domain Movements in the Mechanism of E. Coli Dihydrofolate Reductase: Crystallographic Evidence. M. R. Sawaya, & J. Kraut. Biochemistry, Vol 36, pp. 586-603, (1997). DHFR the Movie.

Crystallization of the A alpha subunit of protein phosphatase 2A M. O. Skidmore, M. R. Sawaya, S. Parkin, B. Rupp, H. Hope, S. J. Everse, & G. Walter. Protein Science (1996), 5: 1198- 1200.

Meanwhile, here is a musical score to enhance your viewing enjoyment. musical score.

If you have any comments about my movie, please click on my email Michael R. Sawaya (sawaya@mbi.ucla.edu). A screen should pop up and there will be buttons for send and cancel.

Some Useful Links

previous member of the following laboratories:

back to Kraut Research Group homepage and see other Kraut Group Members
back to Ellenberger Group


Michael R. Sawaya
Research Faculty, UCLA Technology Center, Eisenberg, Yeates, Dickerson, Bowie Labs

Questions, comments, or suggestions regarding this page should go to: sawaya@mbi.ucla.edu


 

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