Structure and function analysis of the Merlin Sip1 complex

• Author / Creator

  Leung, Albert Chun Cheung

• Mutations in the NF2 gene lead to the disease Neurofibromatosis Type II which is characterized by the formation of multiple tumours in the central nervous system. The NF2 gene encodes the protein Merlin. Merlin interacts with a number of different proteins and these interactions may be important for Merlin tumour suppressor function. Amongst these proteins, EBP50 has been identified as a candidate scaffold protein.
  In this thesis, I identified a potential novel binding site in Drosophila Merlin to the Drosophila EBP50 homolog, Sip1. I determined that this potential novel binding site is both necessary and sufficient for binding in vitro. In addition, a conserved potential novel phosphorylation site is also identified in this region and may be involved in the regulation of the Merlin Sip1 interaction. These results suggest that a regulatory protein complex may be involved in Merlin tumour suppressor activity.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Merlin
  • Sip1
  • NF2

• Graduation date

  Fall 2011

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3QG9M

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.