Interaction and assembly of the spliceosomal Sm complex in Cyanidioschyzon merolae

Some biochemical processes are challenging to be studied due to the number of components that they are comprised. Splicing is a challenging process that involves removal of unnecessary information from messenger RNA for synthesis of a protein of interest. This process gives raise to much of the protein diversity in humans; therefore, it is not surprising that a great number of diseases can be linked to defects in splicing. We have identified an unique reduced splicing machinery in a red alga, Cyanidioschyzon merolae, being a great model of study. Here, it is investigated one of the splicing complexes characterized in this alga, Sm complex, comprised of seven proteins. I have been able to successfully synthesize this complex allowing investigation of its binding to other splicing components. However, its assembly is unrevealed since the proteins involved in this process are absent in this alga.TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Stephen Rader

Student:

Partner:

Université de Montpellier

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Northern British Columbia

Program: