Date of Award

Spring 5-6-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biological Science

First Advisor

Dr. Kasey Karen

Second Advisor

Dr. Indiren Pillay

Third Advisor

Dr. Michael Gleason

Abstract

Adenovirus is a nonenveloped, double-stranded DNA virus that contains a 36 Kbp genome. The E4 ORF3 region of its genome consists of an E4 11k protein that can reorganize host cell components by relocalizing cellular proteins. One such cellular component is the cytoplasmic processing body, which consists of proteins involved in translational repression of mRNA and mRNA degradation. During an adenovirus infection, processing body proteins Ddx6 and Pat1b have been shown to colocalize and form aggresomes. Aggresomes induced by E4 11k are specific to the adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad 5). In this study, cytoplasmic Pat1b foci were observed and quantified to determine E4 11k’s effect on Pat1b during an infection. Our data reveals that Ad 5 E4 11k is necessary and sufficient for increasing Pat1b foci in Ad 5-infected cells. To determine whether this increase in Pat1b foci is serotype-specific, we also studied the localization pattern of Pat1b in Ad 9 and Ad 12 E1-replacement viruses. There was a significant increase in Pat1b foci in Ad 5-infected cells compared to mock and the other two serotypes suggesting that rearrangement of Pat1b is serotype-specific. Additional studies were done to determine the effect of p-body rearrangement by E4 11k on late gene expression, but the results are currently inconclusive. Altogether, our data contributes to the understanding of how viruses can disrupt p-body proteins during an infection.

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