Document Type

Paper- Restricted to Campus Access

Publication Date

4-22-2021

Faculty Mentor

Rebecca Lyczak

Abstract

The maturation promoting factor (MPF) is a protein complex made from CDK-1 and CYB-3. In the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, the MPF is responsible for the maturation of oocytes as well as the initiation of mitosis and meiosis. Regulation of the MPF is vital for proper cell-cycle and maturation timing. The kinase WEE-1.3 inactivates the MPF through phosphorylation, and the phosphatase CDC-25 activates the MPF through dephosphorylation. Currently, we are looking into interactions between the MPF and the aminopeptidase PAM-1, which is responsible for cleaving the N-terminus of peptides. Specifically, we are interested in the interactions between PAM-1 and CDK-1. In order to establish hypotheses and design experiments, we have been reading literature related to the MPF. Fortunately, it is a widely studied protein complex. In this study, I combine the information that I learned from the research into a diagram that depicts various protein interactions, all relating back to the MPF in C. elegans. This diagram serves as a useful reference that we can go to whenever we want to explore a new protein or pathway that is still relevant to our project. It can also be helpful as an overview of the complex to someone who is new to the topic.

Comments

Presented as part of the Ursinus College Celebration of Student Achievement (CoSA) held April 22, 2021.

The downloadable file is a poster presentation with audio commentary with a run time of 3:29.

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