Abstract
HrpA is a poorly characterized DEAH-box helicase found in many enterobacteria, including Escherichia coli. For unknown reasons, HrpA causes sickness in cells lacking Elongation Factor P, a transpeptidation enhancer that prevents ribosome stalling at proline-rich motifs during protein synthesis. HrpA's C-terminal RNA binding motifs and association with the degradosome suggest this protein interferes with an important translational process. Deletion of hrpA does not produce an overt phenotype, obscuring its role in cellular physiology. This thesis sought to identify pathways affected by this highly conserved protein. A bioinformatic analysis of HrpA's predicted interactome was conducted using a database called STRING. In an effort to verify HrpA's predicted enzymatic partners, a synthetic lethal screen was performed in order to identify hrpA-dependent mutants. Although the screen failed to identify mutant colonies dependent on HrpA for optimal growth, this thesis will serve as a foundation for further investigation of HrpA's role in translation.
Thesis Completion
2021
Semester
Spring
Thesis Chair/Advisor
Moore, Sean
Degree
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
College
College of Medicine
Department
Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences
Degree Program
Biomedical Sciences
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Release Date
5-1-2021
Recommended Citation
Simons, Brandon, "Identifying Pathways Affected by the HrpA RNA Helicase" (2021). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 882.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses/882