Characterization of novel signaling protein in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Jennifer Ivey Middlebrooks and Laura R. Keller
Biological Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee FL, USA
 
Using flagellar regeneration in Chlamydomonas as a model system for studying cell signaling mechanisms, we are investigating a novel protein, Cr7TM, which was previously identified in our microarray profile of genes expressed after flagellar loss. Because its sequence predicts that this protein contains seven transmembrane helices, Cr7TM was previously cited as a putative G-protein coupled receptor. However, our extensive bioinformatic analysis reveals that Cr7TM belongs to a unique and highly conserved protein family, and does not show traits commonly attributed to currently characterized G-protein coupled receptors in other organisms. Our efforts are focused on immunofluorescent localization of Cr7TM, and determination of its cellular function. Preliminary results from RNAi mediated loss of function mutants indicate a possible role in cell cycle regulation.
 
 
 
e-mail address of presenting author: jivey@bio.fsu.edu