40 years with bacteriophage ø29.
I have dedicated the past 46 years of my life to science and I expect to be active in research for many more years. I have been lucky in my professional life. During my postdoctoral years I discovered two proteins that I showed to be involved in the initiation of protein synthesis. Working with bacteriophage ø29 for the past 40 years, we have made many interesting findings. Among them is the discovery of a protein covalently linked to the 5' ends of ø29 DNA that we later showed to be the primer for the initiation of ø29 DNA replication. Also, the finding of the ø29 DNA polymerase with its properties of high processivity, strand displacement, and high fidelity has been very rewarding. The ø29 DNA polymerase has become the ideal enzyme for DNA amplification, both rolling circle and whole-genome amplification. I also am happy because I have worked with many brilliant students and collaborators over the years, most of whom have become excellent scientists.
Salas
Margarita
M
Instituto de Biología Molecular Eladio Viñuela (CSIC), Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain. msalas@cbm.uam.es
D017103:Bacillus Phages / Q000235:genetics; D004261:DNA Replication; D049673:History, 20th Century; D013030:Spain; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000502:physiology
D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins