Date of Award

2014

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.Sc.

Department

Biological Sciences

Keywords

cohesin, drosophila, meiosis, rad21/smc3, securin, separase

Supervisor

Andrew Swan

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

Sister-chromatid cohesion is maintained by Cohesin complex. Separase releases the cohesion through the cleavage of the kleisin subunit of Cohesin complex. Separase is regulated by its inhibitor, Securin/Pim. These processes are well studied in mitosis but little is known for meiosis. I found that Separase is required for the proper separation of homologous chromosomes and sister chromatids in Drosophila meiosis. Its function is inhibited by Securin/Pim during the process. I showed that the common kleisin subunit, Rad21, is not likely to be the meiotic target of Separase and that Rad21 and another common Cohesin component, SMC3/CAP, does not contribute to sister-chromatid cohesion in meiosis. Therefore Drosophila meiosis may use novel protein(s) to mediate cohesion. I also found that Rad21 contributes to the sister-chromatid cohesion in the polar body and Separase is responsible for the release of this cohesion at the arm region under the control of Securin/Pim.

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