RUI: Arginine methylation of a lipin homologue and its function in phospholipid biosynthesis in Trypanosoma brucei

布鲁氏锥虫脂类同系物的精氨酸甲基化及其在磷脂生物合成中的作用研究问题集中在研究寄生原生动物布鲁氏锥虫中一种参与必需磷脂生物合成的新蛋白的修饰。布氏毛滴虫的部分生命周期在人类血液中度过，部分在非洲采采蝇中度过，因此为研究寄生适应多种真核宿主提供了一个有趣的模型系统。该项目将加强纽约州立大学布罗克波特学院生物系的研究环境，为本科生和硕士研究生提供机会，利用一个重要的原生动物模型系统直接参与假设驱动的基础研究。此外，独立的本科生研究项目将使参与者在互动、合作和建设性的框架内接触科学。参与高影响力的研究活动将增强整体的教育体验，并提高学生获得研究生职位、被专业学校录取以及在各种生物学科中就业的能力。本项目的主要目标是利用遗传/生化双重方法确定TbLpn的功能(S)，以及它在锥虫体内新陈代谢中的重要性。TbLpn的功能和精氨酸甲基化的影响将在体内进行评估，方法是通过RNA干扰干扰TbLpn的表达，并确定干扰对细胞生长、细胞形态、细胞磷脂含量、磷脂酸磷酸酶活性和脂质生物合成基因表达的影响。这项研究将涉及锥虫生物学的重要方面，并将成为寄生虫学和蛋白质修饰领域的一个增长领域。通过一种创新的方法，一种新的蛋白质在磷脂生物合成和毒力方面的潜在作用将被揭示。此外，它可能会增加我们对进化上古老的寄生虫中蛋白质精氨酸甲基化的理解，并为这种常见的翻译后修饰在高等生物中的机制和进化提供洞察力。

RUI: Arginine methylation of a lipin homologue and its function in phospholipid biosynthesis in Trypanosoma bruceiThe research question focuses on investigating modifications of a novel protein involved in essential phospholipid biosynthesis in the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei. T. brucei spends part of its life cycle in the human bloodstream and part in the African tsetse fly, thus presenting an interesting model system for studies of parasitic adaptation to multiple eukaryotic hosts. This project will strengthen the research environment in the Department of Biology at The College at Brockport, SUNY, by providing opportunities for undergraduate and Master's level graduate students to participate directly in hypothesis driven basic research using an important protozoan model system. In addition, the independent undergraduate research projects will expose participants to science in an interactive, collaborative, constructive framework. Involvement in high impact research activities will enhance the overall educational experience and increase student ability to secure graduate positions, admission to professional school, and employment in various biological disciplines.The major objective of this project is to identify the function(s) of TbLpn, a recently identified protein, and its importance in trypanosome metabolism using a dual genetic/biochemical approach. The functions of TbLpn and the effect of arginine methylation will be assessed in vivo by disrupting its expression by RNA interference and determining the effect of the disruption on cellular growth, cell morphology, cellular phospholipid content, phosphatidic acid phosphatase activity, and expression of lipid biosynthetic genes. This research will address important aspects of trypanosome biology and will constitute an area for growth in the fields of both parasitology and protein modification. By using an innovative approach, potential roles of a novel protein in phospholipid biosynthesis and virulence will be unveiled. In addition, it will potentially increase our understanding of protein arginine methylation in an evolutionarily ancient parasite, and provide insight into the mechanisms and evolution of this common posttranslational modification in higher organisms.