Date Approved
5-2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Cell & Molecular Biology
Department
Cell Biology and Neuroscience
College
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Sponsor
This project was funded as part of a R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health.
First Advisor
Natalia Shcherbik, PhD
Committee Member 1
Dimitri Pestov, PhD
Committee Member 2
Randy Strich, PhD
Subject(s)
Reactive Oxygen Species, RNA, Ribosomal, Protein Biosynthesis, RNA, ribosomal, 25S, Eukaryota, Nucleic Acids
Disciplines
Cell Biology | Laboratory and Basic Science Research | Medicine and Health Sciences | Molecular Biology | Molecular Genetics | Nervous System Diseases
Abstract
Translation is an essential process for protein expression in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Like any cellular process, translational factors are prone to damage when the cell is under stress. One common stressor that nearly all cells may experience is abnormal levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Damage caused by ROS has been associated with disease ranging from neurodegenerative impairments, to the aging process of cells. These oxygen radicals are capable of damaging a litany of molecules including nucleic acids, and molecular factors involved in translation. It has been shown that tRNA can be cleaved upon ROS-induced stress and these fragments come to serve as signaling molecules. However, to date there is very little research that has been done to investigate whether or not rRNAs are capable of similar signaling. Presented in this dissertation is an observed endonucleolytic cleavage in the ES7c region of eukaryotic 25S rRNA, which results in rRNA fragments formation. Herein, experimentation is presented that shows a relationship between elevated levels of ROS, in particular H2O2, and ES7c-cleavage. The results presented in this dissertation aim to provide further understanding of this observed rRNA cleavage. The groundwork established during this project serves as a foundation for further research into the nature of this phenomenon. The protocols and procedures that were developed during this project will provide our laboratory with necessary tools for future projects regarding ROS, apoptosis, and rRNA fragmentation.
Recommended Citation
Gardner, Ethan, "The Role of the Expansion Segment 7 of 25S rRNA During Oxidative Stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae" (2017). Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Theses and Dissertations. 20.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/gsbs_etd/20
Included in
Cell Biology Commons, Laboratory and Basic Science Research Commons, Molecular Biology Commons, Molecular Genetics Commons, Nervous System Diseases Commons