Analysis of The Hyperactivity of a Mutant mPING Transposable Element

School Name

Governor's School for Science & Mathematics

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Microbiology

Presentation Type

Mentored

Mentor

Mentor: Nathan Hancock, University of South Carolina - Aiken

Abstract

mmPing20 is a sequence of DNA called a transposon. These transposons are capable of excising from the genome and moving to another region given the appropriate conditions, including the presence of the proteins required for excision. mmPing20 is a hyperactive transposon, as it contains 7 point mutations that somehow cause hyperactivity in the element. By testing different mutant varieties that had mutations similar to those found in mmPing20, comparisons can be drawn between the transposition rates of the mutants and mmPing20 to see if any individual or combination of mutations are responsible for the hyperactivity of mmPing20. The transposition rate of the mutants was measured using yeast as a chassis. The mutant DNA was transformed into the ADE2 gene of the yeast. This gene produces a necessary protein for yeast to grow, adenine. While the transposon is in the gene and the yeast is on a plate with no adenine present, the protein will not be produced and yeast will not grow, and whenever it transposes, a colony will form. Counting these colonies returns the number of transpositions that occur. After running the tests, it was determined that only a full combination of the mutation would result in the hyperactivity of the transposon. However, the results are still inconclusive as of yet because the mmPing20 control did not function during the duration of the experiment. Therefore, the reference used for the experiment was outdated and could be inaccurate.

Location

Wall 224

Start Date

3-25-2017 11:15 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 25th, 11:15 AM

Analysis of The Hyperactivity of a Mutant mPING Transposable Element

Wall 224

mmPing20 is a sequence of DNA called a transposon. These transposons are capable of excising from the genome and moving to another region given the appropriate conditions, including the presence of the proteins required for excision. mmPing20 is a hyperactive transposon, as it contains 7 point mutations that somehow cause hyperactivity in the element. By testing different mutant varieties that had mutations similar to those found in mmPing20, comparisons can be drawn between the transposition rates of the mutants and mmPing20 to see if any individual or combination of mutations are responsible for the hyperactivity of mmPing20. The transposition rate of the mutants was measured using yeast as a chassis. The mutant DNA was transformed into the ADE2 gene of the yeast. This gene produces a necessary protein for yeast to grow, adenine. While the transposon is in the gene and the yeast is on a plate with no adenine present, the protein will not be produced and yeast will not grow, and whenever it transposes, a colony will form. Counting these colonies returns the number of transpositions that occur. After running the tests, it was determined that only a full combination of the mutation would result in the hyperactivity of the transposon. However, the results are still inconclusive as of yet because the mmPing20 control did not function during the duration of the experiment. Therefore, the reference used for the experiment was outdated and could be inaccurate.