Molecular Biology Commons^™

Med13p Prevents Stress-Independent Mitochondrial Hyperfragmentation And Aberrant Apoptosis Activation In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae By Controlling Cyclin C Nuclear Localization, Svetlana Khakhina

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Theses and Dissertations

During aging, and as a result of environmental changes, cells are exposed to elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). High ROS levels induce lipid oxidation, protein aggregation, mitochondrial hyperfragmentation, DNA damage and programmed cell death (PCD), also called apoptosis. PCD is a highly regulated process and its misregulation has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases and cancer development.

Our hypothesis is that cyclin C plays a role in the initiation of apoptosis. During normal conditions, cyclin C represses the transcription of stress response genes (SRG). In response to stress, cyclin C translocates to the cytoplasm where it facilitates mitochondrial hyperfragmentation …

Engineering Novel Terpene Production Platforms In The Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Xun Zhuang

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

The chemical diversity and biological activities of terpene and terpenoids have served in the development of new flavors, fragrances, medicines and pesticides. While terpenes are made predominantly by plants and microbes in small amounts and as components of complex mixtures, chemical synthesis of terpenes remains technically challenging, costly and inefficient. In this dissertation, methods to create new yeast lines possessing a dispensable mevalonate biosynthetic pathway wherein carbon flux can be diverted to build any chemical class of terpene product are described. The ability of this line to generate diterpenes was next investigated. Using a 5.5 L fed bath fermentation system, …