37th Annual Student Research Conference
Is Drosophila Cyp1 the fly version of human CypD?
Lainie M. Mueller*, Abigail G. Wolf, and Collin D. Lechman
Dr. Brett A. Berke, Faculty Mentor
Human Cyclophilin D (CypD) folds unknown proteins in mitochondria (where cellular energy is created) to cause cell death. Powerful genetic tools in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster may help identify these unknown proteins. We are first testing whether Drosophila Cyclophilin 1 (Cyp1) is the fly version of CypD. Flies lacking Cyp1 are less sensitive to a toxin (Cyclosporine A; CsA) than genetic controls, similar to how CypD mutations suppress cell death in knockout mice. Additionally, the CypD protein opens a pore in mitochondria, causing cell death. We are isolating mitochondria from flies to determine if the opening of the pore is reduced in the Cyp1 mutant. Finally, to examine whether Cyp1 folds proteins similar to CypD, we are trying to isolate and purify Cyp1 to measure its protein folding activity. Our examination of Cyp1 may eventually provide a better understanding of how CypD causes cell death.
Keywords: Drosophila, Cyclophilin, Protein biochemistry, Mitochondria
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: 209-4
Location: MG 1096
Time: 11:15