Kinesins are an important type of motor that use microtubules to move throughout the cell and are thought to be a factor in regulating the motility of chloroplasts in moss. This project is focused on further understanding the mechanism of microtubule-mediated chloroplast motility by trying to test the chloroplast light avoidance response in moss plants where kinesins 4-II and 7-I have been silenced by RNAi. Latrunculin and oryzalin were used as controls in altering chloroplast movement as they each disrupt the function of actin and microtubules respectively. Under the influence of these drugs the avoidance response should either decrease or disappear altogether.

• 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

• Kenney, Allison Haley
• Walker, Vaughn Christopher

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-043015-163018

Advisor

• Vidali, Luis
• Buckholt, Michael Allan

Year

• 2015

Date created

• 2015-04-30

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright