Investigation of the Function of Protein Acyl Transferases using CRISPR-Cas9 to Create Null Mutants

Author

Claire E. Christopher, University of New Hampshire, DurhamFollow

Date of Award

Spring 2023

Project Type

Senior Honors Thesis

College or School

COLSA

Department

Molecular and Cellular Biology

Program or Major

Genetics

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

First Advisor

Estelle Hrabak

Abstract

24 Protein Acyl Transferases (PATs) have been identified in the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana. Despite knowing the enzymatic function of these genes (palmitoylation), the specific subcellular pathways, protein targets, and cellular activities of these proteins remain unknown. To investigate the pathways that PAT genes are involved in, deletion mutations were created in several genes and the phenotype of the organisms carrying homozygous mutations was observed. To introduce mutations, the CRISPR/Cas9 system was inserted into the plant’s genome using Agrobacterium tumefaciens to cause deletions in PAT genes of interest. To date, no CRISPR-induced pat mutants have a noticeable phenotype. These results will focus on PAT14; identification of mutants in other PAT genes is underway but will not be presented in detail here.

Recommended Citation

Christopher, Claire E., "Investigation of the Function of Protein Acyl Transferases using CRISPR-Cas9 to Create Null Mutants" (2023). Honors Theses and Capstones. 738.
https://scholars.unh.edu/honors/738