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Date of Award

2005

Document Type

Thesis - Pacific Access Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

Department

Biological Sciences

First Advisor

Craig A. Vierra

First Committee Member

Lisa Wrischnik

Second Committee Member

Geoffrey Lin-Cereghino

Third Committee Member

Paul Richmond

Abstract

The ABF-1 gene encodes for a protein that belongs to the basic helix-loop-helix family of transcription factors. ABF-1 mRNA molecules have been detected in the lymphoid tissues, which include the bone marrow, lymph nodes, and appendix, as well as transformed B cells lines infected with Epstein-Barr virus. This study investigates the role of ABF-1 in regulating downstream target genes in the human mature B cell line RAJI, as well as the plasma cell line, ARH-77. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and DNA microarray technology was used to investigate target genes that are subjected to transcriptional regulation by ABF-1. Using ABF-1 inducible cell lines or B cell lines that overexpress ABF -1 by transient transfection experiments, we discovered many cellular genes that change in their transcriptional profiles in response to ABF -1 expression. Based upon the analysis of genes being affected following ABF-1 induction, our results support the hypothesis that ABF-1 primarily functions as a transcriptional repressor in vivo. Many genes that regulate the cellular processes of apoptosis, as well as the cell cycle, were repressed following ABF-1 expression. Because EBV has been reported to control ABF-1 gene expression, the identification of downstream target genes regulated by ABF-1 may provide insight into the molecular events that follow after EBV infection.

Pages

68

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