Sheila Ferer, Alina Vane, & Dr. Hugo Tapia
Abstract
Most biological processes occur with water as a solvent, making desiccation a major stressor for living organisms. Desiccation tolerant organisms, anhydrobiotes, can overcome such stress by surviving a loss of intracellular water and obtain normal metabolic function once rehydrated; however, the protection factors for desiccation tolerance are still not well understood. Hydrophilins, a group of small intrinsically disordered proteins, and trehalose, play a key role in desiccation tolerant yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Trehalose, a nonreducing disaccharide, protects against the stress of desiccation. Hydrophilins are thought to contribute to the configuration of yeast membranes during stress conditions. We will examine the role of hydrophillins, trehalose and their possible functions as mediators of the formation and or function of eisosomes (lipid domains in yeast plasma membrane). Limiting humidity levels may further uncover mechanisms employed by anhydrobiotes. Our goal is to characterize the possible relationship between trehalose, eisosomes and hydrophilins in desiccation tolerance of S. cerevisiae.
Details
Session 1
11:15am – 12:30pm
Del Norte Hall
Room B: 1545
