Investigating the Effects of DNA Damaging Agents on Survival in Hob1 Knockout Strains of Schizosaccharomyces Pombe

Abstract

An important aspect of cancer research investigates why one tumor is resistant to chemotherapy while another tumor is sensitive to chemotherapy. The gene BIN1 when expressed renders chemoresistant cancer cells sensitive to DNA damaging agents in mammals. To better understand the extent of the chemosensitivity when BIN1 is expressed we are going to utilize the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe. S. pombe has a functional homolog of BIN1 called HOB1 (Homolog Of Bin1). We have exposed both wild type and hob1Δ yeast strains to a wild variety of DNA damaging agents at various concentrations and accessed their survival rates. By comparing the sensitivities of wild type yeast to yeast lacking a function Hob1 protein we can have a better understanding of the role mammalian Bin1 protein plays in rendering cancer cells chemosensitive.