Mathematical modelling of DNA replication [Elektronische Ressource] / von Anneke Brümmer

Mathematical Modelling of DNA ReplicationDISSERTATIONzur Erlangung des akademischen Gradesd o c t o r r e r u m n a t u r a l i u m(Dr. rer. nat.)im Fach Biophysikeingereicht an derMathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät Ider Humboldt-Universität zu BerlinvonDiplom-Physikerin Anneke Brümmer20.10.1977 in HamburgPräsident der der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin:Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Christoph MarkschiesDekan der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät I:Prof. Dr. Lutz-Helmut SchönGutachter:1. Prof. Dr. Peter Hammerstein2. Prof. Thomas Höfer, PhD3. Prof. Dr. Lilia AlberghinaTag der mündlichen Prüfung: 08.07.2010AbstractBefore a cell divides into two daughter cells, its entire genetic material has to be copiedwithout errors and exactly once. In eukaryotic cells, a vast amount of replication originsexists that enable the replication of the DNA to initiate simultaneously from manyin parallel, thereby contributing to a relatively rapid duplication of the genome. The initi-ation of DNA replication from the replication origins is a tightly controlled process. Themolecular machinery involved in this process in budding yeast has been identified in thepast decades, but questions remain concerning their precise dynamical behavior and inter-actions.In order to restrict the initiation of DNA replication to once per cell cycle, the activation ofthe origins proceeds in two temporally separated phases, the licensing and the firing phase.