Date of Award
12-2012
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Biological Sciences
First Advisor
Dr. Donald A. Kane
Second Advisor
Dr. Silvia Rossbach
Third Advisor
Dr. Pamela Hoppe
Keywords
Ogre, Racgap1, cell cycle, cytokinesis
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
The early arrest mutant ogre, isolated in the Tübingen screen, has a block in cytokinesis (Kane et al., 1996). Here I use genetic and molecular techniques to demonstrate that the ogre phenotype is caused by a lesion in the gene encoding Racgap1. I performed fine mapping studies using microsatellite markers to a 0.15 cM region containing the ogre locus. DNA sequence data revealed a nonsense mutation in the Racgap1 gene of ogre mutants, and in situ hybridization experiments showed a loss of racgap1 mRNA at later stages of development, likely by nonsense mediated decay. This evidence supports the abolishment of Racgap1’s GTPase activating (GAP) function which is required for the inactivation of RhoA, a necessary step for the completion of cytokinesis. This failure in cytokinesis drastically affects some neural, erythrocyte and podocyte populations resulting in cell death most likely by apoptosis. Injection of wild-type racgap1 mRNA in ogre resulted in a partial rescue of the morphological, neural, and cellular phenotypes. These data provide definitive evidence that ogre is Racgap1 and indicate that just as in the fly, and the worm, GAP function of Racgap1 is necessary for cytokinesis in zebrafish.
Recommended Citation
Wicklund, April, "Early Arrest Mutant Ogre: A Defect in Cytokineis Caused by a Mutation in the Gene Racgap1" (2012). Masters Theses. 111.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/111