Utilization of Poly(A)-Binding Protein in Monitoring the Formation of mRNP Granules in Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasma regulates its gene expression throughout its complex life cycle to survive and confront different kind of stresses. Here I aimed to gain a better understanding of how this regulation is maintained in Toxoplasma at the post-transcriptional level and in the aspect of the formation of messenger ribonucleoprotein complex (mRNPs). I chose to study the poly(A) binding protein (PABP). Metazoans usually encode multiple isoforms of PABP to function in nucleus and/or cytoplasm but in Toxoplasma there is only one predicted PABP. In this thesis, I studied the localization of the only predicted PABP in Toxoplasma (TgPABP). It was detected that TgPABP is predominantly localized in the cytoplasm under treatment with actinomycin D. Second, we also found that TgPABP aggregates into microscopically visible granules, as an indicative of mRNPs. Upon salubrinal treatment, mRNPs were formed in both extracellular and in intracellular parasites whereas cycloheximide can diffuse these granules in less than one hour.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.Sc.

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Grantor

University of Windsor

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Manni, Emad

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Ananvoranich, Sirinart

Licence

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_CA

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14776/5428

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uwindsor.scholaris.ca:20.500.14776/5428