Caroline Kane

Professor Emerita of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology*
*And Member, Graduate Group in Microbiology

Full Directory Information

Dr. Kane is no longer taking students or research fellows.

Research Interests

Dr. Kane has retired and is taking no new students or postdoctoral fellows.  Our goal was to understand how gene expression is controlled in eukaryotic cells. Specifically, we focused on the transcription elongation process. Regulation during elongation is involved in controlling the expression of a large number of genes, including protooncogenes and several infectious viruses. To understand this regulation, we studied the molecular details of the transcribing complex during elongation as well as the biological effects brought about by regulated changes in this part of the transcription machinery.  We used two model systems:  Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNA polymerase II and hepatitis C virus RNA dependent RNA polymerase.

Former Projects

Selected Publications

Genetic interactions between TFIIF and TFIIS. [Fish, R. N., M. L. Ammermann, J. K. Davie, B. F. Lu, C. Pham, L. A. Howe, A. S. Ponticelli, and C. M. Kane (2006) Genetics 173, 1871-84]

Genetic interactions between an RNA polymerase II phosphatase and centromeric elements in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. [E. Pierstorff and C.M. Kane (2004) Mol Genet Genomics 27, 603-15]

Running with RNA polymerase: Eukaryotic transcript elongation. [K.M. Arndt, and C.M. Kane (2003) Trends in Genetics 19, 543-50]

In vitro studies of transcript initiation by E. coli RNA polymerase. I. RNA chain initiation, abortive initiation, and promoter escape at three bacteriophage promoters. [L.M. Hsu, N.V. Vo, C.M. Kane, and M.J. Chamberlin (2003) Biochemistry 42, 3777-3786]

In vitro studies of transcript initiation by E. coli RNA polymerase. II. Formation and characterization of two distinct classes of initial transcribing complexes. [N.V. Vo, L.M. Hsu, C.M. Kane, and M.J. Chamberlin (2003) Biochemistry 42, 3887-3797]

In vitro studies of transcript initiation by E. coli RNA polymerase. III. Influences of individual DNA elements within the promoter recognition region on abortive initiation and promoter escape.[N.V. Vo, L.M. Hsu, C.M. Kane, and M.J. Chamberlin (2003) Biochemistry 42, 3798-3811]

Evaluating A Science Diversity Program at U.C. Berkeley: More Questions than Answers. [J.T. Matsui, R. Liu, and C.M. Kane (2003) Cell Biology Education 2, 117-121]

Intrinsic transcript cleavage in S. cerevisiae RNA polymerase II elongation complexes. [R.G. Weilbaecher, D.E. Awrey, A.M. Edwards, and C.M. Kane (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 24189-24199]

Genetic interaction between TFIIS and the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex. [J.K. Davie, and Caroline M. Kane (2000) Molecular and Cellular Biology 20, 5960-5973]

Structural basis for the species specific activity of TFIIS. [N.B. Shimasaki, and Caroline M. Kane (2000) J. Biol. Chem 275, 36541-36549]

Last Updated 2011-08-05