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Spartin Protein Associates With Phospholipids Via Its Plant-Related Senescence Domain And Functions As A Lipid Transfer Protein, Maureen Ashlee Shaw

Theses (1 year embargo)

Troyer syndrome is a hereditary spastic paraplegia caused by a mutation that leads to a complete loss of expression of spartin protein. The plant-related senescence domain in spartin is highly conserved and present in over 150 proteins, but its function is unknown. Our results indicate that spartin associates with phospholipids via its senescence domain.

Phospholipids are important components of intracellular membranes and play roles in many cellular processes. Knock-down of spartin results in impaired cell division. The phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PI3P) is present at midbodies, where it recruits proteins for cytokinesis. Our findings demonstrate that spartin colocalizes with PI3P at …