Engineering An ER-Targeted Dynein-Anchoring Fusion Protein to Mediate Spindle and Nuclear Positioning in Budding Yeast

Authors

Dayle WangFollow

Degree Program

A.B.

Year of Graduation

2020

Faculty Advisor

Wei-Lih Lee and Margaret Ackerman

Document Type

Thesis (Senior Honors)

Publication Date

Spring 6-10-2020

Abstract

Current evidence suggests that, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the Num1 protein binds and anchors cytoplasmic dynein to the cell cortex, where dynein generates a pulling force that aligns the mitotic spindle during mitosis; however, the exact location where Num1 anchors dynein remains unclear. In this study, I genetically engineered fusions of the dynein-anchoring CC domain of Num1 to a resident ER protein, Tcb3. Through functional microscopy-based assays, I found that the fusion protein Tcb3-CC rescues the mitotic spindle alignment defect in num1Δ yeast, indicating that the cortical ER can serve as an anchoring platform for dynein.

Dartmouth Digital Commons Citation

Wang, Dayle, "Engineering An ER-Targeted Dynein-Anchoring Fusion Protein to Mediate Spindle and Nuclear Positioning in Budding Yeast" (2020). ENGS 88 Honors Thesis (AB Students). 20.
https://digitalcommons.dartmouth.edu/engs88/20