39th Annual Student Research Conference
Is Cyclophilin 1 the fly version of Cyclophilin D?
Lainie M. Mueller*, Aleece Walker, and Molly Cernich
Dr. Brett A. Berke, Faculty Mentor
Drosophila Cyclophilin 1 (Cyp1) is a potential fly equivalent of Cyclophilin D (CypD), a regulator of cell death in humans. Several criteria support this hypothesis. First, Cyp1 localizes to mitochondria, like human CypD. Second, while it is unknown if Cyp1 and CypD have equivalent enzymatic activity, both proteins contain nearly identical sequences. Third, the Cyclosporine A (CsA) toxin complexes with Cyclophilins, but mutating Cyp1 suppresses CsA-induced lethality. Finally, we are testing whether Cyp1 opens a mitochondrial pore (mPTP) to stimulate cell death like CypD. The mPTP is opened by high levels of calcium, which leave through the pore. Calcium imaging thus helps us visualize pore opening. We will soon test whether Cyp1 mutations block/suppress the reduction in mitochondrial calcium that comes with pore opening. These criteria may support Cyp1 as the fly version of human CypD, making it a valuable model for studying mitochondrial regulation and cell death.
Keywords: Drosophila, Cyclophilin, Animal behavior, Mitochondria, Calcium imaging, Cyclosporine A
Topic(s):Biology
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: TBA
Location: TBA
Time: TBA