Rescuing A Molecular Motor In Dilute Mice
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Authors
Anderson, Sara
Advisor
Marilyn Schendel
Sam Alvey
D. William Provance, Jr.
Sam Alvey
D. William Provance, Jr.
Editor
Date of Issue
2006-04-01
Subject Keywords
Publisher
Citation
Series/Report No.
item.page.identifier
Title
Rescuing A Molecular Motor In Dilute Mice
Other Titles
Type
thesis
Description
Abstract
Molecular motors are cellular enzymes that convert chemical energy into mechanical energy and are vital to cellular organization and function. The focus of the following research is Myosin Va, a molecular motor whose activity contributes to melanosome distribution in melanocytes. A mutation within myosin Va leads to the dilute coat-color phenotype in mice and some cases of Griscelli’s syndrome in humans. The main goal of this research was to create a chimeric myosin V, with portions of both myosin Va and Vb. This chimeric myosin was then transfected into dilute melanocytes to see if the normal distribution ofmelanosomes was restored. The results with this construct were compared to an old construct of the chimeric myosin V. Distribution of the melanosomes within the cell was monitored via bright field of the expression from the construct by immunofluorescence.
Sponsors
Degree Awarded
Bachelor's
Semester
Spring
Department
Life & Environmental Sciences