xii, 86 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / My dissertation has focused on identifying functions for non-essential genes in essential process, using the early C. elegans embryo as a model system. The fully sequenced C. elegans genome contains ∼19,800 protein coding genes of which about half have identifiable homologs in humans. Classical forward genetic mutagenesis screens, and more recently, genome-wide RNA interference (RNAi) screens has led to the identification of most essential genes in the genome. Analysis of the phenotypic data from mutants and RNAi screens shows that roughly 15% of the genes are essential and an additional 15% produce some other easily identifiable knockdown phenotype. This leaves about 70% of genes that have no functional information. Genetic modifier screening allows for the identification of roles for genes that do not produce a loss of function phenotype on their own but are able to modify the phenotype of a specific mutant. In my first chapter, I introduce approaches to identifying new gene functions and the usefulness V of C. elegans as a model system in this pursuit. In Chapter II, I describe a type of high-throughput genetic modifier screen that combines the sensitized genetic background of temperature-sensitive (ts) embryonic lethal mutants, and RNAi, to identify genes that either enhance or suppress embryonic lethality seen in the mutant background. I also summarize results from screening four ts mutants using this method. The following two chapters describe the identification and characterization of genetic modifier genes for two different ts embryonic-lethal mutants. Chapter III describes modifiers of rfl-1 , a conserved gene required for proper cytoskeletal regulation in the early C. elegans embryo. Chapter IV describes modifiers of lit-1 , also a conserved gene, that is required for regulation of Wnt signaling and cell fate specification in C. elegans . These findings reveal novel genetic interactions and provide functional information about many conserved but non-essential genes that have had no previous characterization. Conclusions are also made about the effectiveness of ts mutant/RNAi screening in the pursuit of identifying new gene functions. This dissertation contains co-authored material that has been previously published, and material that is currently in review, or is being prepared for publication. / Adviser: Bruce Bowerman

Submitted by Ana Hilda Fonseca (anahilda@ufba.br) on 2014-10-03T17:24:18Z No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertação completa corrigida_Isa _versão cd.pdf: 2410357 bytes, checksum: 77ffa404390e7378887c7388dd9bcce7 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Fatima Cleômenis Botelho Maria (botelho@ufba.br) on 2014-10-06T15:28:52Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertação completa corrigida_Isa _versão cd.pdf: 2410357 bytes, checksum: 77ffa404390e7378887c7388dd9bcce7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-06T15:28:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertação completa corrigida_Isa _versão cd.pdf: 2410357 bytes, checksum: 77ffa404390e7378887c7388dd9bcce7 (MD5) / CNPq, CAPES, FAPESB e PETROBRÁS / O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a distribuição de elementos essenciais e não essenciais em amostras de quatro espécies de moluscos bivalves e de sedimentos coletadas na Baía de todos os Santos (BTS), Bahia, Brasil, após digestão em forno de micro-ondas com cavidade. As amostras foram coletadas em sete localidades, entre setembro de 2010 e maio de 2011. As amostras foram analisadas para As, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, V e Zn por espectrometria de emissão óptica com plasma indutivamente acoplado (ICP OES) e espectrometria de massa com plasma indutivamente acoplado (ICP-MS ). Um procedimento de digestão assistida por micro-ondas otimizado, utilizando ácido nítrico diluído, foi utilizado para digerir as amostras de moluscos bivalves. As amostras de sedimentos foram digeridas em forno de micro-ondas seguindo o procedimento da Agência de Proteção Ambiental, EPA 3051A. A acumulação de metais em tecidos moles dos moluscos bivalves foi dependente da espécie. As amostras da espécie Lucina pectinata apresentaram as maiores concentrações de Cd, Cu e Pb quando comparadas com as espécies Anomalocardia brasiliana, Iphigenia brasiliana e Trachycardium muricatum. Todas as espécies apresentaram concentrações de As e Cr acima do limite máximo tolerável, especificados nas normas brasileiras. A análise exploratória dos dados por HCA e PCA mostrou uma tendência de formação de agrupamentos e caracterizações distintas entre as amostras das espécies Lucina pectinata e Trachycardium muricatum. Os resultados obtidos para as amostras de sedimentos indicaram que para a maioria dos elementos, as maiores concentrações foram encontradas na localidade de Tainheiros, sendo que todos os valores encontrados estão abaixo dos limites estabelecidos pela legislação americana e canadense. Este trabalho contribuiu para o fornecimento de informações inéditas sobre as concentrações de elementos essenciais e não essenciais nas espécies Lucina pectinata, Iphigenia brasiliana e Trachyrcardium muricatum amostradas em diferentes regiões da BTS. Além disso, foram obtidos dados complementares sobre a espécie Anomalocardia brasiliana e sedimentos, contribuindo assim para o monitoramento da região. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of essential and nonessential elements in samples of four species of bivalve molluscs and sediments collected in the Todos os Santos Bay (TSB), Bahia, Brazil, after digestion in microwave oven cavity. The samples were collected from seven sites in the Todos os Santos Bay, Brazil, between September of 2010 and May of 2011. The samples were analyzed for As, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, V and Zn by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). An optimized microwave-assisted digestion procedure, using nitric acid diluted, was used to digest the bivalve molluscs samples. The sediment samples were digested in a microwave oven following the procedure of the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA 3051A. Accumulation of metals in bivalve mollusks tissues was specie-dependent. The samples of the species Lucina pectinata showed the highest concentrations of Cd, Cu and Pb. All species showed As and Cr concentrations higher than the maximum tolerable limit, specified in the Brazilian regulation. The exploratory data analysis by HCA and PCA showed a tendency to form two groups between samples of the species Lucina pectinata and Trachycardium muricatum. For the most elements in the results obtained for sediment samples, the highest concentrations were found in Tainheiros, and the values obtained are below the limits set by the Canadian and U.S. law. This work contributed to provide new information about the concentrations of essential and nonessential elements in Lucina pectinata, Iphigenia brasiliana and Trachyrcardium muricatum species sampled in different regions of the TSB. Furthermore, additional data were obtained for Anomalocardia bras