ARIK DVIR, Ph.D - Oakland University

ARIK DVIR, Ph.DDepartment of Biological SciencesOakland University, Rochester, MI, 48309Telephone: 248-370-3555; FAX: 248-370-2169E-mail: dvir@oakland.eduArik Dvir CV/Draft 12/2000Courses Taught at OU: BIO 325, Biochemistry I, BIO 326, Biochemistry I Laboratory, BIO 425,Biochemistry II1997 - present Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Oakland University,Rochester, Michigan.1993 - 1997 Senior Research Scientist, Program in Molecular and Cell Biology,Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City.1990 - 1993 Research Associate, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,University of Colorado, Boulder.1984 - 1990 Ph.D., Biochemistry, the Department of Biological Chemistry, HebrewUniversity, Jerusalem, Israel.1981 - 1984 Undergraduate studies, B.Sc. in Biology: with honors, HebrewUniversity, Jerusalem, Israel.RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:Current research (Michigan): Studies of rate-limiting steps during early stages of eukaryoticmRNA synthesis. Research is conducted using a biochemically defined, reconstituted transcriptionsystem. Current investigation includes the interrelations of downstream DNA, ATP cofactor andTFIIH function in transcription initiation and promoter escape, and the relationship betweenpromoter structure and the conformation of the transcription complex.Post-doctoral research (Oklahoma): Investigated basic mechanisms of transcription incollaboration with Drs. Joan and Ron Conaway. Devised a scaled up process for the production oflarge quantities of nuclear extract from rat liver. Developed recombinant chimeric versions of theliver transcription factor C/EBP for in vitro studies. Characterized enzymatic rate-limiting steps intranscription initiation by RNA polymerase II, and discovered a novel role for ATP and the generaltranscription factor TFIIH during the promoter clearance stage of transcription.Postdoctoral research (Colorado): Characterized role of DNA-associated protein kinase in theregulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II in the laboratory of Dr. William S. Dynan.Developed specific kinase assay based on novel recombinant substrate. Discovered that kinaseactivity requires separate catalytic and regulatory components. Purified both components toapparent homogeneity from nuclear extracts of cultured human cells. Demonstrated that theregulatory component is identical to a protein known as the Ku autoantigen. Showed that theregulatory component binds DNA and targets the catalytic component to DNA-bound substrates.Showed that phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II by the kinase is dependent on generaltranscription factors required for the assembly of transcriptional preinitiation complexes.1

Arik Dvir CV/Draft 12/2000Graduate studies (Israel): Characterized cell growth processes and protein kinase C in primarykeratinocytes culture system in the laboratory of Dr. Yoram Milner. Discovered that two proteinkinase C isoenzymes are involved in initial growth, which differ in their catalytic, ligand bindingand chromatographic properties. Characterized protein kinase C-like enzymes in Bacillus Subtilisand Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Investigated the activity of EGF receptor in cultured keratinocyteson cellular tyrosine phosphorylation using novel tyrosine kinase blockers- tyrphostins.AWARDS:2002 National Science Foundation, 3-year research grant: “Mechanism of PromoterEscape by RNA polymerase II”. A. Dvir, Principal Investigator.2000 National Science Foundation, equipment grant: acquisition of a PhosphorImagerapparatus (Molecular Dynamics). A. Dvir, co-principal investigator.1999 National Science Foundation, 3-year research grant: “Role of Promoter Structure inPromoter Escape by RNA polymerase II”. A. Dvir, Principal Investigator.1995 Oklahoma Center for Advancement in Science and Technology (OCAST), 3-yearresearch grant, “Mechanism of Transcription Activation in Liver”. A. Dvir, PrincipalInvestigator.PUBLICATIONS:1. Wang, X., L. Spangler, and A. Dvir, “Promoter escape by RNA polymerase II:Downstream promoter DNA is continuously required during transcription initiation andpromoter escape”. Submitted, September 2002.2. A. Dvir (2002) “Promoter Escape by RNA polymerase II”, Biochim Biophys Acta.1577(2):208-223.3. Spangler, Wang X., J.W. Conaway, R.C. Conaway, and A. Dvir (2001) “TFIIH action intranscription initiation and promoter escape requires distinct regions of downstreampromoter DNA”. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA), 98:5544–5549.4. A. Dvir, J.W. Conaway, and R.C. Conaway (2001) “Mechanism of transcriptioninitiation and promoter escape by RNA polymerase II”. Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev.,11:209-214.5. J. W. Conaway, A. Shilatifard, A. Dvir, and R.C. Conaway (2000), “Control ofElongation by RNA Polymerase II”. Trends Biochem. Sci., 25:375-380.2

Arik Dvir CV/Draft 12/20006. J. W. Conaway, A. Dvir, R.J. Moreland, Q. Yan, B.J. Elmendorf, S. Tan, and R.C.Conaway (1998), “Mechanism of Promoter Escape by RNA Polymerase II”. ColdSpring Harb. Symp. Quant. Biol. 63:357-364.7. A. Dvir, S. Tan, J. W. Conaway, and R. C. Conaway (1997), “Promoter escape by RNApolymerase II: Formation of an escape-competent transcriptional intermediate is aprerequisite for exit of polymerase from the promoter”. J. Biol. Chem. 272:28175-28178.8. A. Dvir, R.C. Conaway, and J.W. Conaway (1997), “A role for TFIIH in controlling theactivity of early RNA polymerase II elongation complexes”. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.(USA), 94:9006-9010.9. D. Reines, A. Dvir, J.W. Conaway, and R.C. Conaway (1997), “Assays for investigatingtranscription by RNA polymerase II in vitro”. Methods 12(3):192-202.10. A. Dvir, R.C. Conaway, and J.W. Conaway (1996), "Promoter escape by RNApolymerase II: a role for an ATP cofactor in suppression of arrest by polymerase atpromoter-proximal sites". J. Biol. Chem. 271:23352-23356.11. A. Dvir, K.P. Garret, C. Chalut, J.-M. Egly, J.W. Conaway, and R.C. Conaway (1996),"A role for ATP and TFIIH in activation of the RNA polymerase II preinitiationcomplex prior to transcription initiation". J. Biol. Chem. 271:7245-7248.12. S.R. Peterson, A.S. Jesch, T.N. Chamberlin, A. Dvir, S.K. Rabindran, K. Wu, and W.S.Dynan (1995), "Stimulation of the DNA-dependent protein kinase by RNA polymeraseII transcriptional activator proteins". J. Biol. Chem. 270:1449-1454.13. A. Dvir, L. Y. Stein, B. L. Calore, and W. S. Dynan (1993), "Purification andcharacterization of a template-associated protein kinase that phosphorylates RNApolymerase II" J. Biol. Chem. 268:10440-10447.14. A. Dvir, S. R. Peterson, M. Knuth, H. Lu, and W. S. Dynan (1992), "Ku autoantigen isthe regulatory component of a template-associated protein kinase that phosphorylatesRNA polymerase II" Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:11920-11924.15. S. R. Peterson, A. Dvir, C. W. Anderson, and W. S. Dynan (1992), "DNA bindingprovides a signal for phosphorylation of the RNA polymerase II heptapeptide repeats"Genes Dev. 6: 426-438.16. A. Dvir, Y. Milner, O. Chomsky, C. Gilon, A. Gazitt, and A. Levitzki (1991), "Theinhibition of EGF-dependent proliferation of human keratinocytes by tyrphostinstyrosine kinase blockers" J. Cell Biol. 113: 857-865.17. A. J. Simon, Y. Milner, S. P. Saville, A. Dvir, D. Mochly-Rosen, and E. Orr (1991),"The identification and purification of a mammalian-like protein kinase C in the yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae" Proc. R. Soc. Lond.[Biol] 243:165-171.3