Alexander Dumas, Steven Lazar and Angelina Sun

Abstract:

Retrotransposons are mobile DNA elements found in most eukaryotic genomes and undergo a process of copying and “pasting” themselves into their host genome. Previous literature has shown that retrotransposition rates increase with age in many different organisms. The Ty1 retrotransposon is highly active early during aging in baker’s yeast, and previous research has shown that cytosolic pH increases very early on during aging, indicating that changes in cytosolic pH levels could regulate retrotransposition during aging. Previously, we observed that two proton pumps in yeast are required for normal levels of Ty1 retrotransposition, supporting a connection between pH, retrotransposons, and aging. This summer, we focused on testing for interactions between overexpression of Pma1p and other factors known to regulate Ty1. Such as whether a Pma1p overexpression could correct different mutant phenotypes. We also worked to determine whether or not retromobility of a plasmid version of Ty1 could be increased with Pma1p overexpression. Other work in the lab helped to show different methods of measuring regulation of Gag protein level and Ty1 integration with both Pma1p and the vacuolar membrane pump, Vma1.