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Co-ordinating Gene Expression in Response to Zinc Deficiency
Reference
BB/C004752/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor
Dr Simon Whitehall
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Institution
Newcastle University
Department
Inst for Cell and Molecular Biosciences
Funding type
Research
Value (£)
204,558
Status
Completed
Type
Research Grant
Start date
01/09/2005
End date
31/08/2008
Duration
36 months
Abstract
Zinc plays vital roles in a range of cellular processes and consequently failure to maintain an adequate level of this metal can result in a range of adverse effects. Cells must therefore monitor their intracellular zinc levels and respond when the concentration falls below an acceptable level. An important component of this response operates at the level of gene expression; zinc deficiency elicits the coordinate induction of genes encoding proteins that provide a selective advantage under zinc-limiting conditions. In the budding yeast saccharomyces cerevisie, this response is mediated by the low zinc-sensing transcription factor Zap-1. However, other eukaryotes such as fission yeast, insects, plants and mammals do not possess homologues of Zap1 and indeed the factors that control gene expression in response to zinc deficiency in these organisms have not been identified. Therefore, we are using the fission yeast schizosaccharomyces pombe as model system to investigate the mechanisms by which cells sense and respond to zinc limitation. Our objectives are to determine the influence of limiting zinc concentrations on global transcript profiles and to characterise the factors that control the expression of zinc-responsive genes. In addition, we will identify and characterise proteins that provide a selective advantage under conditions of zinc deficiency.
Summary
unavailable
Committee
Closed Committee - Genes & Developmental Biology (GDB)
Research Topics
Microbiology
Research Priority
X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative
X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme
X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
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