Location
University of Nevada Las Vegas, Student Union Ball Room
Start Date
6-8-2009 9:30 AM
End Date
6-8-2009 12:00 PM
Description
Stationary phase mutagenesis is a phenomenon whereby random mutations are generated in non-dividing cells. In order to understand how these mutations arise, we use Bacillus subtilis, a gram positive rod-shaped model organism. It is hypothesize that increased transcription promotes stationary phase mutagenesis in this organism. We therefore examined the role of rpoE, a gene that encodes RNA polymerase ! subunit and proposed to influence efficiency of transcription. To this end, we will first generate a strain bearing a deletion in the rpoE gene. In order to determine if this gene is important for mutagenesis, we will examine the accumulation of mutations in this strain compared to the wild type by scoring for reversion to auxotrophy. If rpoE is significant in this process, we will expect a difference between the accumulation of mutations in the mutant strain and wild type. This project is a step towards understanding stationary phase mutagenesis, a process that has implications in evolution, drug resistance and cancer formation.
Keywords
Bacillus subtilis; Cellular mutations; Genetic mutations; Mutagenesis; Non-dividing cells
Disciplines
Genetics | Microbiology
Language
English
The Role of rpoE in stationary phase mutagenesis in Bacillus
University of Nevada Las Vegas, Student Union Ball Room
Stationary phase mutagenesis is a phenomenon whereby random mutations are generated in non-dividing cells. In order to understand how these mutations arise, we use Bacillus subtilis, a gram positive rod-shaped model organism. It is hypothesize that increased transcription promotes stationary phase mutagenesis in this organism. We therefore examined the role of rpoE, a gene that encodes RNA polymerase ! subunit and proposed to influence efficiency of transcription. To this end, we will first generate a strain bearing a deletion in the rpoE gene. In order to determine if this gene is important for mutagenesis, we will examine the accumulation of mutations in this strain compared to the wild type by scoring for reversion to auxotrophy. If rpoE is significant in this process, we will expect a difference between the accumulation of mutations in the mutant strain and wild type. This project is a step towards understanding stationary phase mutagenesis, a process that has implications in evolution, drug resistance and cancer formation.
Comments
Abstract & poster