Department
Biological Sciences
Major
Biological Sciences
Research Advisor
Shannon, Katie
Advisor's Department
Biological Sciences
Funding Source
First Year Research Experience Program
Abstract
Cytokinesis refers to the separation of two daughter cells after mitotic division. An important signaling pathway that enables this process is called the Mitotic Exit Pathway, or MEN. Of particular interest in this pathway is the Dbf2 protein kinase. Dbf2 essentially acts as a middleman within the cascade of messengers and activates proteins that physically separate the cells. The kinase activity of Dbf2 is regulated by other cellular kinases, including the cell cycle regulator kinase. Using mutant alleles of the dbf2 gene, we can manipulate this protein's ability to be phosphorylated or dephosphorylated, thereby altering the downstream effects of the entire MEN. After introducing the mutant alleles of Dbf2 into yeast cells, the effects of the mutations can be quantitatively observed under a microscope, since defects in cytokinesis result in "chains" of unseparated cells.
Biography
Christian Bigler is a freshman undergraduate student at Missouri University of Science and Technology. He is majoring in Biological Sciences and minoring in Chemistry, and he is planning to work as a Medical Laboratory Scientist when he graduates.
Christian was drawn to Dr. Katie Shannon's research project on yeast cells because of its emphasis on laboratory etiquette and skills, as well as its encompassment of a vast array of life sciences from cell biology to genetics to biodiversity. Through working on this project, he hopes to hone his skills in laboratory science, as well as to observe fundamental biomedical methods by which the growth of cells can be regulated.
Research Category
Research Proposals
Presentation Type
Research Proposal Poster
Document Type
Poster
Award
Research proposal poster presentation, Second place
Location
Upper Atrium
Presentation Date
14 Apr 2022, 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Effect of Dbf2 on Phosphorilation
Upper Atrium
Cytokinesis refers to the separation of two daughter cells after mitotic division. An important signaling pathway that enables this process is called the Mitotic Exit Pathway, or MEN. Of particular interest in this pathway is the Dbf2 protein kinase. Dbf2 essentially acts as a middleman within the cascade of messengers and activates proteins that physically separate the cells. The kinase activity of Dbf2 is regulated by other cellular kinases, including the cell cycle regulator kinase. Using mutant alleles of the dbf2 gene, we can manipulate this protein's ability to be phosphorylated or dephosphorylated, thereby altering the downstream effects of the entire MEN. After introducing the mutant alleles of Dbf2 into yeast cells, the effects of the mutations can be quantitatively observed under a microscope, since defects in cytokinesis result in "chains" of unseparated cells.
