@ the END…

My objectives during this first semester with the BioMinds program was to be capable to analyze DNA and protein sequences using as a model integron integrases sequences extracted from marine environments.  I used GeneBank to get sequences from the database bank.  Also, I worked with MEGA 4 to do alignments, to recover sequences, and to construct phylogenetic trees and do analysis.  While I analyzed the alignment and the phylogenetic tree I looked for additional domains, the conservative sites, and the catalytic residues that made integron integrases functional.

After all, while analyzing the alingment I found how the integron integrases have a additional domain compare to XerC and XerD.   These two are enzymes that belong to the tyrosine site-specific recombinase family.  I also found that the integron integrases acquired from marine environments conserve different sites that the integrases from other environments do not, but still are functional.  I would like to recall that in the alingment I found a sequence that its functional activity is due to question.  That sequence does not conserve many catalytic residues that are needed to express the integron integrase activity.  Because of that I found alignments and literary work so important.

For the next semester I’m looking forward to keep sequencing and to do PCR of the specific regions found to be conserved by integron integrases.  Also I want to prove that integron integrases exist in every environment and at broad conditions. 

I’d like to thank BioMinds for this opportunity! and Dr. Carlos Rodriguez for all his help and time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~ by Agnes Acevedo-Canabal on May 3, 2008.