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Deborah E. Lycan |
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B.A. University of California, San Diego |
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S
. cerevisiaeCurrent
Teaching
Bio
200 Investigations
in Cell and Molecular Biology
Bio
311 Molecular Biology
Bio 312
Recombinant DNA Lab
BCMB 410 Biochemistry/Molecular
Biology Seminar
Bio 320 Human Genes and Disease
Current research interests and projects
Our research focuses on how ribosomal subunits are assembled in eukaryotic cells. We use the yeast S. cerevisiae as a model organism to study this essential and highly conserved process. Ribosomes are among of the largest and most complex macromolecular machines assembled in cells. In eukaryotes, the 40S subunit contains a single ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and 32 different ribosomal proteins, while the 60S subunit contains the 3 rRNAs and 47 different ribosomal proteins. Ribosomes are assembled from imported ribosomal proteins on nascent rRNA in the nucleolus of the cell. The large and small subunits are then independently exported through nuclear pores at rates that can reach 30 per second. Both subunits require the export receptor Crm1 for export, and both undergo independent post-export maturation events that are required before the subunits are translation-ready. Over 150 proteins that do not end up as constituents of the mature ribosome are necessary for ribosome biogenesis. The molecular details of how most of these non-ribosomal proteins function is unknown. We have focused our work on the late steps, on export and maturation of the small 40S subunit. In particular, we are characterizing the role of Ltv1, a late adding biogenesis factor that has many characteristics expected of an export-adapter for Crm1, and on RpS3, a ribosomal protein that interacts with Ltv1. We hope to understand better what role ribosomal proteins play in ribosome biogenesis and what role Ltv1 plays in both export and subunit maturation.
Selected publications:
Deborah Lycan, Glen Mikesell, Maureen Bunger*
and Linda Breeden. (1994) Differential effects of Cdc68 on cell cycle-regulated
promoters in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mol. Cell. Biol. 14:7455-7465.
Deborah Lycan, Kimberlee Stafford*, William Bollinger* and Linda Breeden. (1996) A new Saccharomyces cerevisiae ankyrin repeat-encoding gene required for a normal rate of cell proliferation. Gene 171:33-40.
Sandra P. Ewaskow, Julia M. Sidarova, Deborah Lycan, J. Craig Emery* Jorg Hendle, Kam Y.J. Zhang and Linda L. Breeden. (1998) Mutation and Modeling Analysis of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Swi6 Ankyrin Repeats. Biochemistry 37:4437-4450.
Jesse W. Loar*, Robert M. Seiser, Alexandra E. Sundberg*, Holly J. Sagerson*, Nasreen Ilias*, Pamela Zobel-Thropp, Elizabeth A. Craig, and Deborah E. Lycan . (2004) Genetic and biochemical interactions among Yar1, Ltv1 and Rps3 define novel links between environmental stress and ribosome biogenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genetics 168 :1877-89.
Robert M. Seiser, Alexandra Sundberg*, Bethany Wollam*, Pamela Zobel-Thropp, Katherine Baldwin*, Maxwell Spector*, and Deborah E. Lycan. (2006) Ltv1 is required for efficient nuclear export of the ribosomal small subunit in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genetics 174: 1-13.
* Undergraduate co-authors.
Updated: Jan. 1, 2009