Tax is a human T-lymphotrophic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) protein that predisposes transformation of certain cell types by inducing cellular senescence. To map the Tax domain that confers this senescence, PCR-based truncation mutagenesis was used. PCR products included full length tax and mutants lacking the C-terminal quarter, C-terminal half, and N-terminal quarter of the protein. These mutants and the wild type were cloned into a yeast plasmid vector under the control of a GAL1 promoter and used to transform Y187 S. cerevisiae. After Trp- selection and galactose induction, the transformed yeast phenotypes were observed. Based on comparison of wild type and truncation phenotypes, it was concluded that the senescence-conferring domain could be located in the C-terminal region of the protein.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Salmon, Oliver James
• Koscielska, Katarzyna Anna

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042508-125134

Award

• Provost's MQP Award

Advisor

• Wobbe, Kristin K.
• Heilman, Destin

Year

• 2008

Date created

• 2008-04-25

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biochemistry

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2023-01-20