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Date of Award

5-3-1996

Document Type

Restricted Thesis: Campus only access

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Dr. Brad Goonder

Abstract

Cell growth involves complex interactions among many proteins. One of the more intriguing aspects of cell growth is cell polarity. What makes one part of the cell different from the other causing one part to grow differently from the other? Many proteins have been characterized in yeast involved in cell polarity. One type of proteins that have been identified are called septins. Septins (CDC3, CDC10, CDC11, and CDC12) assemble at the bud site in yeast in the form of a ring and encircle the mother bud neck during the cell cycle. Mutants of the septins fail to assemble the ring, produce abnormal buds, and do not undergo cytokinesis (Cvrckova et al, 1995). In addition, septins similar to those in yeast have been identified in Drosophila which are required for cytokinesis. This evidence supports that the septins are an important factor in cell growth and polarity. However, there have been no studies on the presence or activity of septins in plants. It is reasonable to assume that they exist because they have been shown not only to exist in multiple organisms and have a related function in those organisms.

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