This project involved an assessment of adipose differentiation research carried out at an off-campus site. PRMTs add methyl groups to histone tails, changing DNA structure. By regulating gene accessibility, PRMTs play an important role in gene regulation and differentiation. Recent findings implicate PRMT4 and 5 as necessary for muscle differentiation. This project explored the role of PRMT4-5 in adipose differentiation. The efficiency of fibroblast transdifferentiation into adipose was monitored by measuring adipose mRNA markers and lipid formation. The results suggest PRMT5 is needed for adipose differentiation. PRMT5 deficient cells did not produce as much lipid or adipose mRNAs compared to wild type cells. A reproducible set of PRMT4 data was not obtained in the experiment.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Jajosky, Ryan P

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-022108-150458

Advisor

• Crusberg, Theodore C.

Year

• 2008

Date created

• 2008-02-21

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright