Student Journal of Cell and Molecular Biology
The Student Journal of Cell and Molecular Biology showcases exceptional original research and comprehensive review papers authored by undergraduate students. Dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge, and showcasing undergraduate research, this journal highlights student work in the fields of cell, molecular, bioinformatics and biochemistry. By providing a platform for emerging scholars, we aim to foster academic growth and encourage contributions to the scientific community. Join us in celebrating the achievements of the next generation of scientists.
Copyright for articles published in this journal is retained by the authors, with first publication rights granted to the journal. By virtue of their appearance in this open access journal, articles are free to use, with proper attribution, in educational and other non-commercial settings.
CWP2 deletion mutant in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae has a thinner cell wall but enhanced protein production and secretion
The CWP2 mutant is a mutant of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that has its CWP2 gene deleted, which is a gene responsible for the production of cell wall protein 2 or Cwp2p–an integral component of the cell wall. Investigations into the structure and function of the Cwp2p protein found that it has an integral role in the stability of the yeast cell wall. Deletion of this gene results in decreased cell wall thickness and increased permeability to certain toxins, making the cells more sensitive to environmental stressors. Despite the importance of this gene in the yeast cell wall, in-depth research into its biochemical interactions is scarce. A more recent study has demonstrated that the disruption of this gene is correlated with the downregulation of some very important pathways involved in cell wall maintenance and the upregulation of pathways related to protein production and secretion.
Copyright (c) 2026 Kian Mousakhan Bakhitari https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
A review of TRK1 function in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
The TRK1 gene encodes for Trk1p, which serves as the main potassium ion importer in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Trk1p is responsible for maintaining high intracellular potassium levels necessary for cell growth. Mutant trk1∆ cells experience potassium starvation due to a decreased ability to adjust potassium acquisition based on internal and extracellular concentrations, which limits cell growth. Additionally, limited potassium uptake has inhibitory effects on proton expulsion by Pma1 H+-ATPase, resulting in acidic cytosolic conditions, susceptibility to toxic cations, and membrane hyperpolarization in trk1∆ cells. This review discusses the known functions of the TRK1 gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and investigates how Trk1p expression interacts with other biochemical processes and how cell functions are affected by the trk1∆ mutant.
Copyright (c) 2026 Dorsa Mir Mohammad Sadeghi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Ino2p – A transcriptional regulator of Saccharomyces cerevisiae lipid biosynthesis
A necessity for eukaryotic life is the ability to properly form phospholipids both for the plasma membrane and vesicle bound organelles. One of the key transcriptional regulators of lipid biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is Ino2p. Structural research has uncovered that the helix-loop-helix structure is integral to Ino2p’s ability to associate with Ino4p for its function as a transcription factor. The genes Ino2p is capable of regulating include INO1, which codes for the enzyme necessary for inositol synthesis and proper lipid synthesis. This relationship between Ino2p and membrane lipid synthesis leads to Ino2p being intertwined in the cell’s response to ER stress and the unfolded protein response. A knockout of INO2 function, ino2Δ, leads to cells with aberrant membrane formation and an altered ER stress response. The critical role of proper lipid biosynthesis regulation in cells suggests that research into Ino2p’s function will be important for a better understanding of cells’ response to internal and external signals.
Copyright (c) 2026 Aidan Gallant https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Examination of the autophagy regulating gene ARL3 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Autophagy is a process critical to maintain cellular homeostasis. This study reviews published literature on a gene important to autophagy in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, ARL3. Arl3p belongs to the Arf-like family of proteins, and is known through both wide-scale genetic screening and highly specific studies to play a role in vesicle transport of compounds from the Golgi apparatus to the endosome. Upon N-terminal acetylation by NatCp, Arl3p localizes to the trans-Golgi network where it is activated by the membrane protein Sys1p. Physical and genetic interactions have been found in studies between Arl3p and Arl1p, which act in a cascade to influence both the conserved oligomeric Golgi complex, as well as to activate vesicle tethering factor Imh1p. This is relevant in the cytoplasm-to-vacuole pathway, an important homeostatic pathway in selective autophagy. Null mutant strains of arl3 have been found to result in a decrease in aminopeptidase I maturation, an important protein for the formation of the phagophore during autophagy, and fragmented vacuoles due to loss of Imh1p localization. Future research directions include investigations of the specific mechanisms of interactions between Arl3p and its associated proteins, with applications for improved human cell viability.
Copyright (c) 2026 Adam Gierej, Lucy An, Annie Zeng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Trk1p expression modulates Pma1p activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
This study investigates the role of the potassium ion channel Trk1p in modulating the activity of the proton ATPase Pma1p in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We evaluated the impact of Trk1p expression on Pma1p activity and yeast cell growth by examining changes in extracellular pH and growth rates at various D-glucose concentrations. Our experimental design included two approaches: measuring extracellular pH as a proxy for Pma1p activity and assessing growth rates under different glucose conditions for TRK1 and trk1-∆ strains. We observed a significant difference in extracellular pH between the wild type and mutant strains across various glucose concentrations, suggesting that Trk1p modulates Pma1p activity. However, this modulation did not result in significant differences in growth rates between replicates of the same strain, indicating that changes in Pma1p activity do not affect yeast growth under the conditions tested. This study is significant in demonstrating that Pma1p is a central regulator of ion homeostasis with its modulation by Trk1p offering insight into potential antifungal drug targets. These findings propose that other ATPases may compensate for the reduced activity of Pma1p in the mutant, highlighting the complexity of ion regulatory mechanisms in yeast.
Copyright (c) 2026 Raj Dhillon, Burak Ozkan, Aeron Salac, Maya Tharp https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
INO2 mutation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
INO2 plays a crucial role in regulating phospholipid and fatty acid biosynthesis. Previous research indicates ino2-Δ mutants have reduced lipid levels, leading to compromised cell membrane integrity. We hypothesize that an imbalance in lipids may cause stress on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane, resulting in the activation of the ER-associated degradation pathway and in the early ubiquitination of ER proteins. Thus, we measured ubiquitin levels of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as an indirect indicator of ER stress induced by ino2-Δ and were analysed via Western blotting. Additionally, to evaluate cell viability and membrane perturbation, propidium iodide staining with fluorescence microscopy was conducted. Contrary to our hypothesis, significant differences between the ubiquitin levels of wildtype and mutant strains were not observed. This suggests that under the conditions examined, the mutation does not markedly influence ER stress or compromises cell membrane integrity. This observation supports the phenomenon where exogenous lipid supplementation–such as YPD–may bypass the effects of the mutation, preserving cell membrane integrity. The findings of this study enhance our understanding on the crucial role of the effects of nutrient availability on the integrity of yeast cell membrane.
Copyright (c) 2026 Teresa Lei, Kaeul Kim, Juliana Zhou, Lena Shin https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Investigating the role of GVP36 on cell proliferation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in response to thermal stress
The Gvp36 protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a known BAR-containing protein that localizes to the transmembrane and is associated with vesicles of the Golgi body. Studies employing yeast mutants with the Gvp36 knockout have provided insights into its functions, including its role in maintaining cell wall stability through regulating actin cytoskeleton polarization, mediating endocytosis, and sphingolipid homeostasis. Accounting for gvp36Δ’s sensitivity to elevated temperatures and its conferred growth defects, this study aims to elucidate the role of GVP36 in mediating the presence of actin in the cells under thermal stress. After incubation of the yeast at various temperatures – 30°C, 35°C, and 40°C – a consistent parallel between actin presence and greater cell proliferation in the gvp36Δ mutant compared to the wildtype was observed at all temperatures. This study provides further understanding of the general mechanisms underlying cell proliferation and the process’ adaptations to abiotic stress, with implications to broader areas such as health and disease, agriculture, and sustainability.
Copyright (c) 2026 Maya Bhalla, Margaret Javier, Andre Roble, Jena Tseng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0