Date of Award

2010

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.Sc.

Department

Biological Sciences

Keywords

Biology, Molecular.

Supervisor

Hubberstey, Andrew (Biological Sciences)

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

Directed cellular migration is a normal process which involves the actin cytoskeleton and actin-binding proteins such as WDR1 and cofilin. WDR1 promotes actin filament depolymerization by enhancing the severing activity of cofilin, as well as by capping barbed ends. My research focuses on understanding the involvement of mammalian WDR1 and its truncated isoform, WDRdelta35, in cellular migration and invasion. It also focuses on understanding the relationship between the WDR1 isoforms and cofilin activation. This study found that WDR1 and WDRdelta35 may play a role during cancer cell motility. Also, it was revealed that cofilin enhances the transcriptional expression of WDRdelta35. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation influenced WDRdelta35 to increase total cofilin expression and activation, and caused WDR1 to stabilize the inactivation/phosphorylation of cofilin. In general, WDR1 and WDRdelta35 may be functionally distinct, as their effects on motility, regulation, and cofilin activation were notably different.

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