The Effects of Tension, Curvature, & Lipid Diffusion on the Enrichment of Ras Proteins in the Cell Membrane

School Name

Dutch Fork High School

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Biochemistry

Presentation Type

Mentored

Mentor

Mentor: Mark Uline, University of South Carolina

Oral Presentation Award

1st Place

Written Paper Award

1st Place

Abstract

An intriguing part of the cell membrane that provokes study is protein anchor enrichment on the cell membrane. Specifically, recent in vitro studies involving the enrichment of Ras proteins were done to see how enrichment was affected by changes in membrane curvature and evinced that Ras proteins inclination to highly curved membranes. Other research done in vivo, however, provoked further research of this mechanism since when highly curved protrusions were created in living cells, Ras proteins continued to show affinity for the inner leaflet despite what would be assumed as increase in lateral pressure. This would provoke research to determine the exact mechanism(tension, curvature, lipid diffusion tendencies) affecting Ras protein spatial localization. Since mutated Ras can initiate uncontrolled cell division (cancer), this research would allow for deeper understanding of the mechanisms of the Ras protein in order to inhibit uncontrolled signaling and binding to the cell membrane. The computer program will be used Fortran to create multiple model membranes and measure the ratio of relative densities of anchors associated with the N-Ras protein as a function of tension and concentration of lipids in the outer leaflet . The hypothesized belief would be that Ras proteins bind to the inner leaflet more with increased tension and concentration of lipids in the outer leaflet in vivo; results instead proved that it is moreso the concentration of lipids in the outer leaflet that drive a shift in the lateral pressure fields to allow more Ras protein enrichment in the inner leaflet in vivo.

Location

Wall 118

Start Date

3-25-2017 8:30 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 25th, 8:30 AM

The Effects of Tension, Curvature, & Lipid Diffusion on the Enrichment of Ras Proteins in the Cell Membrane

Wall 118

An intriguing part of the cell membrane that provokes study is protein anchor enrichment on the cell membrane. Specifically, recent in vitro studies involving the enrichment of Ras proteins were done to see how enrichment was affected by changes in membrane curvature and evinced that Ras proteins inclination to highly curved membranes. Other research done in vivo, however, provoked further research of this mechanism since when highly curved protrusions were created in living cells, Ras proteins continued to show affinity for the inner leaflet despite what would be assumed as increase in lateral pressure. This would provoke research to determine the exact mechanism(tension, curvature, lipid diffusion tendencies) affecting Ras protein spatial localization. Since mutated Ras can initiate uncontrolled cell division (cancer), this research would allow for deeper understanding of the mechanisms of the Ras protein in order to inhibit uncontrolled signaling and binding to the cell membrane. The computer program will be used Fortran to create multiple model membranes and measure the ratio of relative densities of anchors associated with the N-Ras protein as a function of tension and concentration of lipids in the outer leaflet . The hypothesized belief would be that Ras proteins bind to the inner leaflet more with increased tension and concentration of lipids in the outer leaflet in vivo; results instead proved that it is moreso the concentration of lipids in the outer leaflet that drive a shift in the lateral pressure fields to allow more Ras protein enrichment in the inner leaflet in vivo.