Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Isolation Of Protein Synthesis Initiation Factors Using Volvox Carteri: A Clue To The Translational Control Of Cytodifferentiation, Claudia Hackethal

Honors Theses

Volvox carteri, a multicellular green algae, possesses two distinct cell types--the gonidia and somatic cells. This simple germ-soma dichotomy is ideal for the study of the control of cytodifferentiation. The control of cytodifferentiation in this organism has been identified as a posttranscriptional mechanism, which suggests translation. Initiation factors have been shown to play an important role in controlling translation in many other developmental systems. Therefore, study of the initiation factors in Volvox may shed light on a translational control mechanism. In order to study any modifications of these factors, they must be isolated, possibly by following an adapted wheat germ …