Semester
Fall
Date of Graduation
2010
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
College
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Biology
Committee Chair
Clifton P Bishop
Abstract
The results of the investigation into the role of CK2 and PP2A in Drosophila position effect variegation (PEV) and chromatin modification are presented here. PEV is seen when a gene normally found in euchromatin is placed in close proximity to heterochromatin. The propensity of heterochromatin to spread down the chromosome often results in inactivation of the displaced gene by compaction into heterochromatin. The study presented here utilized two different PEV reporter genes for investigating the role of two posttranslational modifying enzymes, the kinase CK2 and the phosphatase PP2A in chromatin formation. The reporter genes used in this study encode for specific eye color and bristle phenotypes or morphology. The expression of these genes is affected when juxtaposed to heterochromatin, thus serving as a strong reporter to monitor the heterochromatic spread in PEV. Studies revealed that CK2 activity is required for either the establishment, maintenance, or perpetuation of euchromatin or, negatively controls the formation of heterochromatin. PP2A, on the other hand, acts in the opposite fashion - either by favoring the formation of heterochromatin or by inhibiting euchromatin.
Recommended Citation
Banerjee, Swati, "Analyzing the role of CK2 and PP2A in Drosophila position effect variegation" (2010). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 4563.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/4563