Science University Research Symposium (SURS)
Publication Date
2023
College
Sciences and Mathematics, College of
Department
Biology, Department of
SURS Faculty Advisor
Rebecca Adams
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
Though cancer cells have been shown to have abnormal nuclear morphologies and responses to mechanical forces, the mechanisms of how mechanical stress is translated into cellular action and structural reorganization within the nuclear envelope are largely unexplored. The Linker of Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton (LINC) complex is a transmembrane protein complex that connects the actin cytoskeleton to the lamin nucleoskeleton, enabling mechanical forces to be translated between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. In cells exposed to physical stress, nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) –which control the exchange of biochemical signals and macromolecules in and out of the nucleus through mRNA export –have been shown to colocalize with LINC complexes. A better comprehension of the translation of physical forces into changes in gene expressioncan be gained through analysis ofthe existence of interactions between specificNPC and LINC proteins. Using the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae, thepresence of an interaction between NPC inner nuclear envelope proteins and Ndj1 in the LINC complex was tested using a split-green fluorescent proteinmicroscopy approach. To do this, Itransformed complementarysequences for Venussplit fluorescent protein for integration into the yeast cell genome, thus tagging NPC and LINC proteins. After the split-GFP sequenceswere integrated into yeast DNA, fluorescent microscopy was performed to determine the level and locations of protein-protein interactions. Gelelectrophoresis results showed thatthe NPC proteinNdj1was successfully tagged with VC (Venus C-terminus)into cells that that were Mps3-VN (a LINC protein) tagged. In the fluorescent microscopy of yeast tagged with Ndj1-VC, many cells fluoresced, but there was no clear localization around the nuclear envelope. However, there were issues with the fluorescent microscopy for the positive control of yeast already producing Venus split-GFP, so no conclusive results can be made about the Ndj1 fluorescence images until the control is properly completed. Future directions for this study include improving the positive control, and creating environments with mechanical and chemical stimuli to trigger the colocalization of NPC’s and LINC complexes through which interactions are more likely to be detected in the fluorescence microcopy.
Recommended Citation
Boecher, Dean and Adams, Rebecca, "Detecting LINC Complex Mps3 and Nuclear Pore Complex Ndj1 Protein Interactions on Yeast Nuclear Membrane s through Fluorescence Microscopy" (2023). Science University Research Symposium (SURS). 67.
https://repository.belmont.edu/surs/67
