Undergraduate Students

Current

Angeli Sirilan

Undergraduate Research Student
Email: Angeli.Sirilan@asu.edu

Project: There are multiple individual proteins and protein complexes involved in the cleavage and polyadenylation of mRNA. My project is to create a negative control of a key protein within the cleavage stimulation factor (CstF) complex. The protein, cpf-2 in C. elegans, is the only one in the CstF complex that binds directly to the mRNA. By removing the RNA recognition motif from the cpf-2 sequence, not only the individual protein but the entire complex should not be able to bind to the mRNA strand. Thus, differences in mRNA cleaving and polyadenylation between the wildtype and my altered cpf-2 protein can then be attributed to the RNA binding capabilities of cpf-2 and potentially the CstF complex as a whole.

Dalton Meadows

Undergraduate Research Student
Email: Dalton.Meadows@asu.edu

Project: The elucidation of 3' UTR isoforms is a key step in understanding the modifications that pre-mRNA undergoes during its processing within the nucleus. By designing plasmids that express differing photophores within certain types of C. elegans tissue, I hope to better understand the relationship between the subcomplexes of the 3' cleavage and polyadenylation complex. Outside of this work, I tend to the many strains of worms and ensure their continued happy, refrigerated, uncrowded existence.