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oai:drum.lib.umd.edu:1903/208272018-07-17T05:47:10Zcom_1903_11811com_1903_12com_1903_2col_1903_2750col_1903_3

Cooke, Todd Barnes, Alisha Nicole Digital Repository at the University of Maryland University of Maryland (College Park, Md.) Cell Biology & Molecular Genetics 2018-07-17T05:47:09Z 2018-07-17T05:47:09Z 2018 https://doi.org/10.13016/M2Z892J3Z http://hdl.handle.net/1903/20827 The development of the male gametophyte of Marsilea vestita occurs via an ordered sequence of cellular events, which result in the formation of 32 motile sperm. The blepharoplast is a subcellular structure that arises de novo at ~3.5 hours following microspore hydration and functions as a microtubule organizing center during the final mitotic division. I investigated the roles of aurora kinases in the formation and maturation of the blepharoplast. Three unique aurora kinase isoforms were found in the transcriptome of the male gametophyte, each with a unique N-terminal sequence and expression pattern. RNAi knockdowns of each isoform resulted in different stages of developmental arrest, and the absence of blepharoplasts, thereby suggesting that each isoform has a unique function. Centrin phosphomimics acted to stabilize centrin, enabling centrin aggregates to form. My results suggest that each isoform of aurora kinase plays an important role in male gametophyte development in Marsilea. en THE ROLE OF AURORA KINASE IN THE DEVELOPING MALE GAMETOPHYTE OF MARSILEA VESTITA Thesis Cellular biology Molecular biology Aurora Kinase Centrin Marsilea open.access