Areas of Expertise
Viruses, including the human flu virus
Education
B.S. Muhlenberg College (1981)
Ph.D. Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham (1986)
Post-Doc UAB (1986-1987)
Post-Doc Univ. of California at Berkeley (1987-1991)
Biography
Regulation of DNA Replication
Accurate duplication of the genetic material, DNA, is a fundamental process for all living organisms. In my lab at UNF, we are investigating how this process is controlled in animal cells. We are using a virus as a model system for these studies.
Papillomaviruses have a complex life cycle, including a stage when their DNA replication accurately reflects that of the infected cell. The viral DNA is well-characterized, simple to manipulate, and replicates in a predictable and observable way in laboratory cultured cells. We hypothesize that the host cell imposes regulation on the replication of viral DNA. We are using genetic and biochemical approaches to analyze control of replication of papillomavirus DNA.
Publications & Presentations
Lentz MR, Stevens SM Jr, Raynes J, Elkhoury N. 2006. A phosphorylation map of the bovine papillomavirus E1 helicase. Virology Journal 3:13.
Lentz, M. R. (2002) A carboxyl-terminal serine of the bovine papillomavirus E1 protein is phosphorylated in vivo and in vitro. Virus Research 83: 213-219.
Lentz, M., Zanardi, T., Filzen, R., Carter, J., and Hella, M. (2002) Functional analysis of a carboxyl-terminal phosphorylation mutant of the BPV E1 protein. Journal of Molecular Biology 316: 597-607.
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