Some circoviridae viruses produce proteins that selectively kill cancer cell, yet little is known about the mechanism. Cell cycle and localization studies of cells expressing these proteins reveal phenotypic differences, suggesting that these proteins may induce apoptosis via distinct mechanisms. Prior research has yielded little information regarding said assumption. Our experiments have yielded evidence that suggests apoptin and PCV1-VP3 both interact with APC subunit cdc27, supporting a hypothesis that the mechanism of cell death is conserved, and that the observed differences between cells expressing these proteins are ancillary. This would imply that the extraneous phenotypes need not addressed in the development of a small molecule drug that replicates the effect of these proteins.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Partlow, Edward Allen

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042915-232330

Advisor

• Heilman, Destin

Year

• 2015

Date created

• 2015-04-29

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biochemistry

Rights statement

• In Copyright