Effects of mutant Dbf2 alleles on cytokinesis
Department
Biological Sciences
Major
Biological Sciences
Research Advisor
Shannon, Katie
Advisor's Department
Biological Sciences
Funding Source
FYRE
Abstract
Cytokinesis is the division of one cell into two daughter cells. Budding yeast, like other eukaryotic cells, uses an actomyosin contractile ring (AMR) to accomplish cytokinesis. The coordination of cytokinesis with chromosome separation in mitosis is essential to prevent aneuploidy. In budding yeast, the Mitotic Exit Network (MEN) is responsible for completing cytokinesis and linking it to the end of mitosis. Dbf2 is a protein kinase of the MEN that regulates AMR function through phosphorylation. Dbf2 activity is itself regulated by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation by other MEN proteins. In my project, mutant dbf2 alleles that prevent regulation are incorporated into the yeast genome. The effects of the mutations on protein localization and myosin contraction will be observed by fluorescence microscopy. As Dbf2 has a human homolog that is a tumor suppressor gene, learning about the function of this gene could help to illuminate its role in cancer development.
Biography
Sarah Darknell is a sophomore majoring in Biological Sciences and minoring in Psychology and Chemistry. She is a participant of First Year Research Experience (FYRE) and is being mentored by Dr. Katie Shannon while working in the cytokinesis laboratory. She is also the Outreach Chair for SCRUBs pre-health society, and an active volunteer at Phelps Health. She hopes to get into Medical School and pursue a career as a physician.
Research Category
Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Location
Upper Atrium
Presentation Date
16 Apr 2019, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Effects of mutant Dbf2 alleles on cytokinesis
Upper Atrium
Cytokinesis is the division of one cell into two daughter cells. Budding yeast, like other eukaryotic cells, uses an actomyosin contractile ring (AMR) to accomplish cytokinesis. The coordination of cytokinesis with chromosome separation in mitosis is essential to prevent aneuploidy. In budding yeast, the Mitotic Exit Network (MEN) is responsible for completing cytokinesis and linking it to the end of mitosis. Dbf2 is a protein kinase of the MEN that regulates AMR function through phosphorylation. Dbf2 activity is itself regulated by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation by other MEN proteins. In my project, mutant dbf2 alleles that prevent regulation are incorporated into the yeast genome. The effects of the mutations on protein localization and myosin contraction will be observed by fluorescence microscopy. As Dbf2 has a human homolog that is a tumor suppressor gene, learning about the function of this gene could help to illuminate its role in cancer development.
