X-Ray Crystal Structure of a Chromatosome—the Fundamental Nucleosome-Linker Histone Assembly of Chromatin

 Prof. Davey fundamental research interest focuses on understanding the structural and dynamical features of chromatin assembly and how this could yield unique therapeutic possibilities. Davey’s lab has analyzed nucleosome structure and stability with many different DNA fragments to derive a general mechanical model that helps explain and predict the sequence-dependent properties of this system. His lab studies how nucleosomes and chromatin fiber are recognized and influenced by metals, xenobiotics, drugs and therapeutic candidates as well as by nuclear proteins, such as DNA repair, apoptotic and developmental transcription factors. Davey’s lab is working on adduct structure, site selectivity, modulatory and reaction mechanism principles for a variety of chromatin-binding agents, such as metal-based anticancer agents, which, together with understanding how macromolecules recognize specific chromatin states, can reveal novel genomic regulatory features, and allow  to engage in directed drug design.