Author ORCID Identifier
0009-0004-1010-6308
Defense Date
2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Integrative Life Sciences
First Advisor
Derek Prosser
Abstract
Numerous vesicular trafficking pathways exist to sort and transport cargos, maintain cellular homeostasis, and respond to the external environment. While the essential pathways along with their necessary protein machineries and other components have largely been identified, auxiliary and non-canonical routes remain poorly understood by comparison. Among these less-defined pathways are clathrin-independent endocytosis (CIE) and recycling pathways that return endosomal cargos to the plasma membrane. The following collection of papers explores both realms in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in greater detail. The first paper, A CIE change in our understanding of endocytic mechanisms, is a review of clathrin-independent endocytosis detailing its history, its broad range of mechanisms, and its occurrence in numerous model organisms. The second paper, Actin- and microtubule-based motors contribute to clathrin-independent endocytosis in yeast, explores the role the motor protein Myo2 and cytoskeletal structures plays in facilitating CIE in yeast. Next, Sac7 negatively regulates clathrin-independent endocytosis by restricting plasma membrane Rho1 activity, defines how the GTPase-activating protein Sac7 negatively regulates CIE through its inhibitory action towards Rho1 to maintain polarized activity. Finally, The yeast DENN domain protein Avl9 contributes to the recycling and sorting of endosomal cargoes, characterizes the poorly-understood DENN domain protein Avl9 and its contribution to an endosomal recycling route. Collectively, these papers describe a diverse endocytic and endolysosomal system, and broaden our understanding of vesicular trafficking.
Rights
© Daniel Rioux
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-4-2026