38th Annual Student Research Conference
Cyclophilin 1 Mutant Phenotypes in Drosophila
Abigail G. Wolf*, Lainie M. Mueller, and Aleece Walker
Dr. Brett A Berke, Faculty Mentor
The Cyclophilin 1 (Cyp1) protein of the fruit fly Drosophila is thought to localize to mitochondria, the energy producing structure in cells. Within mitochondria, Cyp1 may open a pore that leads to cell death. We are testing pore opening with isolated mitochondria and mitochondria from muscles of control and Cyp1 mutants. If Cyp1 mutations change mitochondrial function, this might explain why knocking it down in neurons alters larval crawling, so we are studying which neurons require Cyp1 for normal crawling. To test Cyp1’s role in cell death, we are feeding flies Cyclosporine A (CsA), a known toxin that binds Cyclophilins and is lethal to flies. If Cyclophilin opens a pore leading to cell death, the loss of Cyp1 should block/suppress CsA’s lethal effects. Previous data with two Cyp1 mutants show reduced CsA sensitivity, and we are now testing the knockdown of Cyp1 with 2 different RNA interference transgenes.
Keywords: Drosophila, Cyclophilin, Animal Behavior, Mitochondria
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: 107-1
Location: MG 2001
Time: 8:45