DOI

https://doi.org/10.25772/XBHY-2111

Defense Date

2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Human Genetics

First Advisor

Dr. Rita Shiang

Second Advisor

Dr. Paul Fisher

Third Advisor

Dr. Andrew Davies

Abstract

The multifunctional exoribonuclease protein PNPase is implicated as a potential target for cancer therapy as well as causing mitochondrial disorders in humans, but there has yet to be a whole animal knockdown model created. In this study, C. elegans was used to investigate the effect of knocking down pnpt-1, the gene that encodes PNPase. It was discovered that pnpt-1 knockdown significantly extends lifespan via an increase in superoxide production similar to other known mitochondrial lifespan extension pathways. Additionally, mitochondrial networks, size and respiration are affected indication of other mitochondrial dysfunction..

PNPase is also known to transport small RNAs into the mitochondria which in turn can affect mitochondria RNA splicing and translation of proteins involved in respiration. Further investigation showed a significant accumulation of polycistronic mitochondrial transcripts in knockdown animals. Lastly, this model has shown that PNPase knockdown is functionally comparable across species and is a viable model for future studies.

Rights

© The Author

Is Part Of

VCU University Archives

Is Part Of

VCU Theses and Dissertations

Date of Submission

5-5-2015

Included in

Genetics Commons

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