Note
Includes bibliography.
Member of
Contributors
Publisher
Florida Atlantic University Digital Library
Date Issued
2011
EDTF Date Created
2011
Description
Vesicular transport is vital to the living cell. Motor proteins, such as the
kinesin superfamily proteins (KIFs), travel along microtubules with attached
vesicles to achieve vesicular transport (Hirokawa 2008). However, not all kinesins
participate in vesicular transport, some are required for other cellular functions. A
recent study showed that the KIF9 motor is involved in keeping the microtubule
organization center (MTOC) correctly positioned and oriented in Dictyostelium
(Tikhonenko et al., 2009), suggesting it may be involved in non-transport
functions. By modulating protein expression levels of KIF9 in COS7 cells, this
study aims to determine whether or not KIF9 contributes to vesicular motility.
Using a fluorescent dye, we have been able to track lysosome movements in
living cells. Our analysis has shown that decreasing KIF9 expression has no effect
on the velocity of vesicle motility, but does slightly affect processivity. This
suggests that KIF9 is not directly involved in cell motility, and serves another
function within the cell which may serve to decrease overall processivity.
kinesin superfamily proteins (KIFs), travel along microtubules with attached
vesicles to achieve vesicular transport (Hirokawa 2008). However, not all kinesins
participate in vesicular transport, some are required for other cellular functions. A
recent study showed that the KIF9 motor is involved in keeping the microtubule
organization center (MTOC) correctly positioned and oriented in Dictyostelium
(Tikhonenko et al., 2009), suggesting it may be involved in non-transport
functions. By modulating protein expression levels of KIF9 in COS7 cells, this
study aims to determine whether or not KIF9 contributes to vesicular motility.
Using a fluorescent dye, we have been able to track lysosome movements in
living cells. Our analysis has shown that decreasing KIF9 expression has no effect
on the velocity of vesicle motility, but does slightly affect processivity. This
suggests that KIF9 is not directly involved in cell motility, and serves another
function within the cell which may serve to decrease overall processivity.
Language
Type
Genre
Form
Extent
37 p.
Identifier
FA00003566
Rights
Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Additional Information
Includes bibliography.
Thesis (B.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, 2011.
Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections
Date Backup
2011
Date Created Backup
2011
Date Text
2011
Date Created (EDTF)
2011
Date Issued (EDTF)
2011
Extension
FAU
IID
FA00003566
Organizations
Attributed name: Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Attributed name: Florida Atlantic University
Person Preferred Name
Cabibi, Lewis J.
author
Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Physical Description
online resource
37 p.
Title Plain
The determination of KIF9's possible involvement in vesicular transport
Use and Reproduction
Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Origin Information
2011
2011
Florida Atlantic University Digital Library
Boca Raton, Fla.
Place
Boca Raton, Fla.
Title
The determination of KIF9's possible involvement in vesicular transport
Other Title Info
The determination of KIF9's possible involvement in vesicular transport