Folding DNA
Claire Hoencamp will perform her project in the research group of Benjamin Rowland. She investigates a protein complex named condensin. "During each cell division the DNA is folded into compact structures that allow for their accurate distribution over the daughter cells", she explains. "This folding process is largely dependent on the condensin complex: a protein complex with a molecular motor."
Molecular gas pedal
Hoencamp: "Our lab recently discovered that this motor has an unexpected asymmetry: you can pinpoint a molecular gas pedal and a brake. The reason why condensin has gas and brake pedals is unknown. A likely scenario would be that the speed of condensin has to be tightly controlled. In this project I will investigate for which processes condensin needs to exert its function really quickly, and also for which processes it needs to act slowly. By answering these questions I hope to gain more insight in the functions of this condensin complex, and also into how the folding of DNA inside the cell is regulated."
Prestigious
"I'm really proud that I have been awarded this fellowship", she adds. This is not the first time a PhD student in Benjamin Rowland's group has been awarded this PhD fellowship; 1,5 years ago Marjon van Ruiten was also awarded this prestigious fellowship.