Event Title
Identifying an Atypical Actin Binding Domain in the Fission Yeast Mid1 Scaffold
Presentation Type
Poster/Portfolio
Presenter Major(s)
Cell and Molecular Biology
Mentor Information
Dawn Clifford Hart
Department
Cell and Molecular Biology
Location
Kirkhof Center KC49
Start Date
11-4-2012 9:00 AM
Abstract
The protein Mid1, found in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, functions as a scaffolding protein that assists in the assembly and placement of the actin contractile ring by directly associating with the cell cortex and components of the contractile ring to anchor the structure in the cell center. Identifying contractile ring proteins that directly associate with Mid1 will contribute to our understanding of proper cell division and equal transfer of the cellular contents and genetic material. In this study we produced and purified GST-fusion domains of Mid1 for analysis via co-sedimentation assay and determined their association with actin filaments. To identify the specific actin binding domain within Mid1 we compared the Mid1 protein sequences of four closely related species of fission yeast to identify regions of high amino acid conservation. Results suggest that the pH domain of Mid1 directly associates with actin filaments, an essential component of the contractile ring.
Identifying an Atypical Actin Binding Domain in the Fission Yeast Mid1 Scaffold
Kirkhof Center KC49
The protein Mid1, found in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, functions as a scaffolding protein that assists in the assembly and placement of the actin contractile ring by directly associating with the cell cortex and components of the contractile ring to anchor the structure in the cell center. Identifying contractile ring proteins that directly associate with Mid1 will contribute to our understanding of proper cell division and equal transfer of the cellular contents and genetic material. In this study we produced and purified GST-fusion domains of Mid1 for analysis via co-sedimentation assay and determined their association with actin filaments. To identify the specific actin binding domain within Mid1 we compared the Mid1 protein sequences of four closely related species of fission yeast to identify regions of high amino acid conservation. Results suggest that the pH domain of Mid1 directly associates with actin filaments, an essential component of the contractile ring.