The mechanism of chloroplast motility in response to light is not yet completely understood. We are testing the hypothesis that the motor proteins kinesin-4IIs and kinesin-7Is transport chloroplasts on microtubules in Physcomitrella patens (P.patens) cells. We are using RNA interference (RNAi) to test their function based on knockdown expression. RNAi constructs were designed and are being assembled to target both kinesin sub-families. Initial results show that Kinesin-7Is RNAi gives a chloroplast dispersion phenotype indicating that it might be involved in chloroplast motility. The effects of Kinesin-4IIs knockdown are still under investigation.

• 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

• Panickar, Divya Ramachandra

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-050114-144434

Advisor

• Vidali, Luis
• Buckholt, Michael Allan

Year

• 2014

Date created

• 2014-05-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright