CHED 974 |
| DNA carries the basic information defining an organism in a condensed form called chromatin. DNA is wrapped into nucleosomes by histone proteins, which can be modified through acetylation and methylation of the amino terminal tails. While a number of studies have reported changes in histone modification during mitosis and meiosis, the specific role of these changes in chromosome structure is not known. We are studying twenty-two proteins that show characteristics of methyltransferases and acetyltransferases in yeast, but their function in higher eukaryotes, including Arabidopsis thaliana, is not known. Transgenic plants expressing meiosis-specific RNA interference constructs are being generated and characterized to determine the effect of the knockdown mutations on chromosome condensation and segregation. If a particular gene is required for correct chromosome condensation during meiosis, down-regulation of gene transcripts should result in male sterility. Immunolocalization studies are being used to better understand the specific nature of the defect. Proteins found to have a significant role in meiosis in Arabidopsis might fill similar roles in higher eukaryotes, including humans. |
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Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Biochemistry
2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, March 26, 2007 Hyatt Regency Chicago -- Riverside Center, Poster
Division of Chemical Education |