dc.contributor.author | Toxopeus, Jantina | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2014-03-21T12:40:19Z | |
dc.date.available | 2014-03-21T12:40:19Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2014-03-21 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10222/45785 | |
dc.description.abstract | The encysted embryos (cysts) of the crustacean Artemia franciscana have several molecular mechanisms to enable anhydrobiosis – life without water. This study examines the function of group 1 Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) proteins, hydrophilic unstructured proteins which accumulate in the stress-tolerant cysts of A. franciscana. Group 1 LEA proteins were knocked down in cysts using RNA interference. Cysts without group 1 LEA proteins exhibited low survival following desiccation and/or freezing, suggesting a role for these proteins in tolerance of low water conditions. In contrast, cysts with or without group 1 LEA proteins responded similarly to hydrogen peroxide exposure , indicating little to no function in reducing damage due to oxidative stress. This is the first in vivo functional study of group 1 LEA proteins in an animal, and may have applied significance in aquaculture, where Artemia is an important feed source, and in the cryopreservation of cells for therapeutic applications. | en_US |
dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
dc.subject | Anhydrobiosis | en_US |
dc.subject | RNA interference (RNAi) | en_US |
dc.subject | Artemia franciscana | en_US |
dc.subject | Intrinsically unstructured proteins | en_US |
dc.title | GROUP 1 LATE EMBRYOGENESIS ABUNDANT (LEA) PROTEINS CONTRIBUTE TO STRESS TOLERANCE IN ARTEMIA FRANCISCANA | en_US |
dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
dc.date.defence | 2014-03-07 | |
dc.contributor.department | Department of Biology | en_US |
dc.contributor.degree | Master of Science | en_US |
dc.contributor.external-examiner | n/a | en_US |
dc.contributor.graduate-coordinator | Dr. Hal Whitehead | en_US |
dc.contributor.thesis-reader | Dr. Bill Pohadjak | en_US |
dc.contributor.thesis-reader | Dr. Arunika Gunawardena | en_US |
dc.contributor.thesis-supervisor | Dr. Thomas MacRae | en_US |
dc.contributor.ethics-approval | Not Applicable | en_US |
dc.contributor.manuscripts | Not Applicable | en_US |
dc.contributor.copyright-release | Not Applicable | en_US |