Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 5-9-2020
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Bradley Jones
Second Advisor
Sarah Liljegren
Third Advisor
Mika Jekabsons
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
Apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death, is a cellular process used for development or for when cells undergo injury or stress. The Bcl2 family of proteins includes both pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins that control the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. Understanding the mechanisms and influence these proteins have on apoptosis is an important area of research focused on in Dr. Jones’s lab. Evidence shows a homology amongst the Bcl2 family of proteins at the BH3 domain. Dr. Jekabsons' lab has found a potential homology amongst VDAC 1-3 and the Bcl2 family at the BH3 domain.
Specifically, our lab is using Drosophila melanogaster to test the interaction between VDACs and Bax by mutating the Drosophila’s VDAC. We are interested in discovering if mutation of this domain causes a phenotypic change in the Drosophila melanogaster, and if the change is harmful or beneficial. We constructed transgenic plasmids using a pUBI-ATTB plasmid as a vector and mouse VDAC cDNA as our gene of interest. We hypothesize that Bax and VDAC interact to prevent the premature assembly of Bax pores in the mitochondrial membrane.
Recommended Citation
Gatlin, Frances Marie, "Evaluation of the Bax-VDAC Interaction and Their Influence on Apoptosis in Drosophila Melanogaster" (2020). Honors Theses. 1393.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/1393
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