Login | Register

The Sodium-Hydrogen Exchanger Nhx1 Drives Late Endosome-Vacuole Membrane Fusion

Title:

The Sodium-Hydrogen Exchanger Nhx1 Drives Late Endosome-Vacuole Membrane Fusion

Karim, Mahmoud (2013) The Sodium-Hydrogen Exchanger Nhx1 Drives Late Endosome-Vacuole Membrane Fusion. Masters thesis, Concordia University.

[thumbnail of Abdul_Karim_MSc_F2013.pdf]
Preview
Text (application/pdf)
Abdul_Karim_MSc_F2013.pdf - Accepted Version
3MB

Abstract

This dissertation reports the function of Nhx1, an endosomal Na+ (K+)/H+ exchanger, in late endosome – vacuole membrane fusion in the model eukaryote S. cerevisiae. Nhx1 is found on the late endosome (LE) where it is known to play a pivotal role in endocytosis. Specifically, loss-of-function mutations in NHX1 block delivery of internalized surface proteins and newly synthesized proteins to the vacuole, the equivalent of the metazoan lysosome in yeast. Because membrane fusion between late endosomes and vacuoles is the final event necessary for protein delivery, and because Nhx1 binds Gyp6, a Rab-GTPase activating protein that is predicted to regulate membrane fusion, I hypothesized that Nhx1 may play a role in LE – vacuole membrane fusion. Unfortunately, there are no existing assays that directly measure this fusion event. Thus, to test this hypothesis, I first devised and optimized an in vitro LE – vacuole membrane fusion assay, which relies on the assembly of complementary β-lactamase fragments to form an active enzyme upon lumenal content mixing. I then used this biochemical assay to characterize the ions and protein machinery responsible for this fusion event. I then demonstrate that Nhx1 is important for LE-vacuole fusion, but its role in this process is independent of its interaction with Gyp6. Together, these results support a model of LE – vacuole fusion that requires H+-transport by Nhx1 upstream of SNARE mediated bilayer mixing.

Divisions:Concordia University > Faculty of Arts and Science
Item Type:Thesis (Masters)
Authors:Karim, Mahmoud
Institution:Concordia University
Degree Name:M. Sc.
Program:Biology
Date:18 August 2013
Thesis Supervisor(s):Christopher, Brett
ID Code:977780
Deposited By: MAHMOUD ABDULKARIM
Deposited On:26 Nov 2013 17:08
Last Modified:18 Jan 2018 17:45
All items in Spectrum are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved. The use of items is governed by Spectrum's terms of access.

Repository Staff Only: item control page

Downloads per month over past year

Research related to the current document (at the CORE website)
- Research related to the current document (at the CORE website)
Back to top Back to top