Eric U. Selker

Working with Neurospora, discovered first known homology-dependent genome defense system, repeat-induced point mutation (RIP), which recognizes and inactivates duplicated genomic sequences. Provided first example of non-symmetric DNA methylation in eukaryotes and elucidated its control, maintenance and function. Demonstrated that methylated Lysine 9 in histone H3 directs DNA methylation through a multi-step pathway that integrates various information on chromatin and culminates in recuirment of the DNA methylation and showed that methylation blocks transcription elongation. Revealed that Neurospora centromeres and telomeric regions consist largely of RIP'd DNA. Demonstrated and characterized telomeric silencing in Neurospora and used this system to identify a methylation inhibitor that shows promis as an anticancer drug.