Kowalczykowski Lab Home Page

Stephen Kowalczykowski, Distinguished Professor
University of California, Davis
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology
Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Biophysics, Genetics, and Microbiology Graduate Groups
Briggs Hall - Rm. 310
One Shields Ave
Davis, CA 95616-8665

E-MAIL:   sckowalczykowski@ucdavis.edu
PHONE (office): 530-752-5938      FAX (office): 530-752-5939
   PHONE (department): 530-752-2626   FAX (department): 530-752-9014
Focus in Chromosome Dynamics at U.C. Davis

Recent papers and papers in press

Our research interests include:

	Molecular mechanism of genetic recombination DNA strand exchange proteins Homologous pairing Recombination-intermediate structures DNA helicases DNA processing Recombination hotspots
	Biochemistry of DNA helicases DNA unwinding and ATP hydrolysis Translocation along DNA Molecular motor mechanisms Reconstituted in vitro reactions

Protein-nucleic acid interactions
Atomic force (scanning probe) microscopy
Single-molecule visualization
Equilibrium and kinetic properties
Fluorescence-based assays

[Click here to see a movie of translocation & unwinding by an individual RecBCD helicase along a single molecule of DNA]

laser optical trap
Streptavidin-coated bead (1m)

More movies:
1 mM ATP
250 µM ATP #1
250 µM ATP #2
no ATP

News Flashes!

Jensen, R.B., Ozes, A., Kim, T., Estep, A., and Kowalczykowski, S.C. (2013). BRCA2 is epistatic to the RAD51 paralogs in response to DNA damage. DNA Repair, in press.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Forget, A.L., Dombrowski, C.C., Amitani, I., and Kowalczykowski, S.C. (2013). Exploring protein-DNA interactions in 3D using in situ construction, manipulation, and visualization of individual DNA-dumbbells with optical traps, microfluidics, and fluorescence microscopy. Nature Protocols, 8, 525-538.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Bell, J.C., Plank, J.L., Dombrowski, C.C., and Kowalczykowski, S.C. (2012). Direct imaging of RecA nucleation and growth on single molecules of SSB-coated ssDNA. Nature, 491, 274-278 (published online 24 October 2012 as doi: 10.1038/nature11598). PMID: 23103864
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Morimatsu, K., Wu, Y., and Kowalczykowski, S.C. (2012). RecFOR proteins target RecA protein to a DNA gap with either DNA or RNA at the 5'-terminus: Implication for repair of stalled replication forks. J. Biol. Chem. 287, 35621-35630 (published online 17 August 2012 as 10.1074/jbc.M112.397034). PMID: 22902627; PMCID: PMC3471720
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Cejka, P., Plank, J.L., Dombrowski, C.C., and Kowalczykowski, S.C. (2012). Decatenation of DNA by the S. cerevisiae Sgs1–Top3–Rmi1 and RPA complex: A mechanism for disentangling chromosomes. Mol. Cell, 47, 886-896 (published online August 15, 2012). PMID: 22885009; PMCID: PMC3462259
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

NIH Videocast: DNA Repair Interest Group
Biochemistry of Recombinational DNA Repair: Common Themes
Author/Sponsor: Dr. Steve Kowalczykowski, UC Davis
Tuesday, January 20, 2004; Total Running Time: 01:22:40 (Requires RealPlayer software )
Slide Show or PDF Presentation

Highly cited paper selected by ISI Essential Science Indicators: "Biochemistry of homologous recombination in Escherichia coli," (Microbiol. Rev. 58 [3]: 401-65, September 1994). This paper ranks among the top 15 highly cited papers in the field of Microbiology, with a total of 511 citations to date.
(in-cites, April 2002 - Citing URL: http://www.in-cites.com/BI-april2002.html )
Read interview with Dr. Stephen Kowalczykowski

Nanotech Dreams - The Scientist 16[5]:34, Mar. 4, 2002 - excerpt
Full article

Davis Community Television - February 8, 2001 7:00 PM: Get The Word Out - "Double helix unwinds on camera." Stephen Kowalczykowski interviewed by Jon Price.
(Rerun on Tues Feb 13, 2001 at 7:30 PM). [VIDEO]

Scott, Eugenie C., ... your name et al. 2004. The Morphology of Steve. Annals of Improbable Research, July-slash-August. pp. 24-29.pdf
[PDF]