Catálogo de Investigaciones | 2013-2014

153 CATÁLOGO DE INVESTIGACIONES | AÑO ACADÉMICO 2013 -2014 The Role of Copper Imbalance in the Budding Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisie Copper transport to the inside of the cell is very important since this transition metal catalyzes many reactions required for proper cellular function. The high affinity copper transporter in Saccharomyces Cereviase is regulated by Ctr1p, an integral membrane protein that serves as the major copper transporter to the intracellular compartment. Once the copper is inside the cell, it is transported by one of the three independent copper chaperones to a specific organelle: Atx1p (targets to the endoplasmic reticulum), Ccs1p (targets for protein degradation), and Cox17p (targets to the mitochondria). This copper transport mechanism is conserved in more developed eukaryotes like mouse, files, and humans. It is known that deficiency in copper transport is associated with several diseases in humans. Cells deficientin the high affinity copper transport mechanism possesses the following phenotypes: lack of growth in copper-or iron- limited conditions, oxidative stress sensitivity, and respiratory deficiency. Other effects are associated with high exposure to copper levels, resulting in cellular toxicity. The purpose of this study is to understand the effect of copper imbalance in cell vianility and operation of the copper transport machinery. Chemical and genetic disruption of the copper transport mechanism, as well as growth conditions with high levels of copper will be used to perform this project. This will allow us to identify target genes involved in the response to copper imbalance associated with health conditions in humans. This project is supported by the NIH (NIH award number:8P20GM103475-12) and UPR-PRAABRE. Propuesta PR-INBRE Pilot Project Program prof. josé f. rodríguez quiñones colegio de ciencias yeast copper transport