Date of Award

6-1-2015

Document Type

Campus Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Linda Huang

Second Advisor

Alexey Veraksa

Third Advisor

Kellee Siegfried

Abstract

The MAP kinase SMK1 is an important regulator of sporulation in S. cerevisiae. However, the mechanism by which Smk1 is activated and its downstream targets are not well understood. YBR063c was identified as a protein that physically interacts with Smk1 (Slubowski, Roesner, and Huang, unpublished). I characterized the phenotype of ybr063c mutants, and found that ybr063c mutants proceed through meiosis, form spores and germinate normally. I show that YBR063c expression is induced 6 hours into sporulation, and protein expression levels are unchanged in a smk1 mutant strain. I find that YBR063c localizes between the dividing nuclei during and after meiosis II, and within the spores once meiosis is complete; this localization is reminiscent of mitochondrial localization during sporulation. From this localization, I speculate that that YBR063c may play a role in mitochondrial segregation.

Comments

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