Date of Award
1992
Document Type
Honors Thesis (Open Access)
Department
Colby College. Chemistry Dept.
Advisor(s)
David Bourgaize
Abstract
Volvox carteri, a multicellular green algae, possesses two distinct cell types--the gonidia and somatic cells. This simple germ-soma dichotomy is ideal for the study of the control of cytodifferentiation. The control of cytodifferentiation in this organism has been identified as a posttranscriptional mechanism, which suggests translation. Initiation factors have been shown to play an important role in controlling translation in many other developmental systems. Therefore, study of the initiation factors in Volvox may shed light on a translational control mechanism. In order to study any modifications of these factors, they must be isolated, possibly by following an adapted wheat germ protocol. Further studies elucidating the phosphorylation state of these factors should be conducted to determine their role in controlling translation in Volvox and thus their role in the divergence of two distinct phenotypes by the descendents of a single cell.
Keywords
Volvox, Proteins -- Synthesis
Recommended Citation
Hackethal, Claudia, "Isolation of protein synthesis initiation factors using Volvox Carteri: a clue to the translational control of cytodifferentiation" (1992). Honors Theses. Paper 110.https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/honorstheses/110
Copyright
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