The Kekkon family in Drosophila belongs to a class of transmembrane LIG proteins that contains both leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) and an immunoglobulin (Ig) domain in the extracellular domain. Two family members, Kek 1 and Kek 5, have been shown to inhibit the Drosophila EGFR receptor (DER) and Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling, respectively. Prior work on a related family member, Kek3, also suggested a role in BMP signaling. To further investigate this, structural/functional analyses of Kek3, was undertaken. Phylogenetic analysis was used to identify highly conserved regions of Kek3, and in addition to the LRRs and Ig domain, revealed a set of conserved intracellular motifs of unknown function. A variant of Kek3 lacking the intracellular domain was created for functional studies.

• 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

• Krishnan, Manisha

Contributors

• Jain, Charu

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-043015-131714

Advisor

• Duffy, Joseph B.

Year

• 2015

Date created

• 2015-04-30

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright