Date of Award
2023
Document Type
Masters Thesis
Degree Name
M.S.
Organizational Unit
College of Natural Science and Mathematics, Biological Sciences
First Advisor
Yan Qin
Second Advisor
Martin Margittai
Third Advisor
Scott Barbee
Fourth Advisor
Dan Linseman
Keywords
Fluorescence, Lysosomes, Mucolipidosis, Neurodegenerative, Zinc
Abstract
Zinc (Zn2+) is a divalent, redox-inert metal that plays a vital role in many cellular processes either by acting as a catalytic cofactor or a labile signaling molecule in the cytoplasm. Cytosolic Zn2+ levels are tightly regulated to stay within a narrow window of concentrations, but fluctuations in Zn2+ signals have been detected in a variety of cells. We developed a genetically encoded, single red fluorescent protein (RFP) based Zn2+ sensor, RZnP1, that can be used alongside green-wavelength sensors for the simultaneous detection of different signaling molecules within the same cells or among different subcellular compartments. The excitation wavelength of many RFPs is less phototoxic than that of GFPs which extends imaging time. We demonstrate live cell multi-compartmental imaging of cytosolic and mitochondrial Zn2+ dynamics using RZnP1 and mitochondria targeted GZnP2 and discovered that high concentrations of cytosolic Zn2+ are not sequestered into mitochondria in healthy neurons.
My second project aims to study Zn2+ homeostasis in Mucolipidosis type IV (MLIV). MLIV is an inherited neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorder, which has severe developmental delay, psychomotor deficits, and vision loss. It is caused by loss-function mutations in the lysosomal channel TRPML1. We assess the Zn2+ and Ca2+ permeability and localization of 10 different TRPML1 patient mutants. Furthermore, we quantify Zn2+ concentrations in the cytosol, lysosomes, and mitochondria in MLIV patient fibroblasts. We found that mitochondrial Zn2+ concentrations are significantly higher in MLIV cells. Next, we demonstrate that high lysosomal Zn2+ can be imported into the mitochondria. Lastly, we assessed whether higher mitochondrial Zn2+ in MLIV cells can affect mitochondrial morphology.
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Rights Holder
Anna M. Dischler
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
File Format
application/pdf
Language
en
File Size
82 pgs
Recommended Citation
Dischler, Anna M., "Developing Red Fluorescent Zn2+ Sensors and Characterizing Zn2+ Homeostasis in Mucolipidosis Type IV Disease" (2023). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2220.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/2220
Copyright date
2023
Discipline
Cellular biology, Molecular biology