Role of ubiquitination in <em>Caenorhabditis elegans</em> development and transcription regulation during spermatogenesis

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dc.contributor.advisorMount, Stephenen_US
dc.contributor.advisorSmith, Harolden_US
dc.contributor.authorKulkarni, Madhura Den_US
dc.contributor.departmentCell Biology & Molecular Geneticsen_US
dc.contributor.publisherDigital Repository at the University of Marylanden_US
dc.contributor.publisherUniversity of Maryland (College Park, Md.)en_US
dc.date.accessioned2008-10-11T05:52:42Z
dc.date.available2008-10-11T05:52:42Z
dc.date.issued2008-08-12en_US
dc.description.abstractRegulation of gene function can be achieved through a variety of mechanisms. In this dissertation, I present the genetic and molecular characterization of two genes involved in two distinct mechanisms of control. Each gene was initially identified by its functional role in sperm development in the model organism <em>Caenorhabditis elegans</em>. The first gene, <em>uba-1</em>, is an essential enzyme involved in protein turnover through ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. A temperature-sensitive allele, <em>(uba-1)it129</em>, was isolated in a classical genetic screen for mutations that cause sperm-specific sterility. The second gene, <em>spe-44</em>, encodes a putative transcription factor. Its identification by microarray screening for sperm-enriched genes led to the cytological analysis of the deletion allele <em>spe-44(ok1400)</em>, by reverse genetics approach. <em>it129</em> encodes a conditional allele of <em>uba-1</em>, the sole E1 ubiquitin-activating enzyme in <em>C. elegans</em>. E1 functions at the apex of the ubiquitin-mediated conjugation pathway, and its activity is necessary for all subsequent steps in the reaction. Ubiquitin is covalently conjugated to various target proteins. Poly-ubiquitination typically results in target protein degradation, which provides an essential mechanism for the dynamic control of protein levels. Homozygous mutants of <em>uba-1(it129)</em> manifest pleiotropic phenotypes, and include novel roles for ubiquitination in sperm fertility, control of body size, and sex-specific development. We propose a model whereby proteins normally targeted for proteasomal degradation instead persist in <em>uba-1(it129<sup>ts</sup>)</em> and impair critical cellular processes. The second gene, <em>spe-44</em>, was identified as a putative sperm gene regulator in <em>C. elegans</em> based on its up-regulated expression during spermatogenesis and its significant sequence homology to the DNA-binding SAND domain. Genetic analysis of a deletion allele of <em>spe-44(1400)</em> has revealed its functional role during sperm development. Cytological analysis of <em>spe-44(ok1400)</em> showed developmental arrest of spermatocytes prior to spermatid differentiation. <em>spe-44</em> mRNA is expressed in a narrow spatial and temporal window, just prior to spermatocyte differentiation, consistent with its functional role during spermatogenesis. Future study will be directed to find putative targets of <em>spe-44</em> and the mechanisms that regulate gene expression using microarray analysis and yeast-one hybrid screens. These studies will help to understand transcriptional regulatory aspects of spermatogenesis in <em>C. elegans</em>.en_US
dc.format.extent25602266 bytes
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/8612
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.subject.pqcontrolledBiology, Geneticsen_US
dc.subject.pqcontrolledBiology, Molecularen_US
dc.subject.pqcontrolledBiology, Cellen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledCaenorhabditis elegansen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledUbiquitin conjugationen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledUbiquitin-activating enzymeen_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledE1en_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledSperm developmenten_US
dc.subject.pquncontrolledTranscriptionen_US
dc.titleRole of ubiquitination in <em>Caenorhabditis elegans</em> development and transcription regulation during spermatogenesisen_US
dc.typeDissertationen_US

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