GENETIC ANALYSIS OF SEPTIN FUNCTION IN FLIES AND YEAST

这项拟议的研究旨在阐明Septin蛋白在多细胞生物体中的基本一般功能，特别是在果蝇中。Septins是形成细丝的多结构域GTP酶，在酵母胞质分裂中发挥作用；然而，有迹象表明，Septins在细胞皮质的定向膜插入和组织中具有更一般的作用。通过产生和检测有缺陷的果蝇突变品系，特别是隔膜蛋白，将建立不同细胞类型中隔膜蛋白功能的更广泛的定义。这项拟议研究的第二个目标是剖析Smt3p家族的间隔素和泛素样蛋白的结合之间的生物学关系。在酿酒酵母中的遗传操作将区分Septin亚细胞定位是否取决于与Smt3p部分的结合，或者Septins是否调节Smt3p与其他蛋白质的结合。因此，我们将阐明Septins参与皮质组织的分子机制。

The proposed research aims to elucidate the basic general function of septin proteins in multicellular organisms, specifically in Drosophila melanogaster. A role for septins, which are multidomain GTPases that form filaments, is established in yeast cytokinesis; however there are hints that septins have more general roles in directed membrane insertion and organization of the cell cortex. Through generation and examination of mutant Drosophila strains defective in particular septins, a broader definition of septin function in different cell types will be established. A second goal of the proposed research is to dissect the biological relationship between septins and conjugation to ubiquitin-like proteins of the Smt3p family. Genetic manipulation in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae will distinguish whether septin subcellular localization depends upon conjugation to an Smt3p moiety, or whether septins modulate Smt3p conjugation to other proteins. One molecular mechanism by which septins participate in cortical organization will thus be elucidated.