Heat Shock Protein Synthesis of Barley Aleurone Cells

Title: Mathematical modeling of heat shock protein synthesis of barley aleurone cells in response to temperature changes

Students: Andrius Jonas Dagilis, Ben Scheiner, Annie Kendzior

Advisors: Dr. Mark Brodl and Dr. Hoa Nguyen

Abstract:

An important question in cell biology is how cells cope with rapid changes in their environment. When heat shocked or stressed, the secretory cells of barley aleurone layers reallocate cellular resources by combining heat shock and endoplasmic reticulum stress responses. A set of proteins that are commonly known as heat shock proteins (HSP) is synthesized. The synthesis of HSPs appears to be due to the increased transcription of HSP genes but it is not known how the tissue senses the increase in temperature. It has been suggested that a primary signal of HSP synthesis may result from a change in the cellular membranes and that the resulting HSPs may exert a protective effect on the membranes. In other words, inductions of HSPs increases cell survival under stress conditions. In this project, a mathematical model of HSP synthesis induced by an external temperature stimulus is proposed. Computational simulations of the model are compared with experimental data for different temperature schemes (plunge [heat shock], slow and fast ramps [heat stresses]). After validation, the model predictions will be used to describe HSP synthesis up to a different final temperature and form hypotheses concerning the molecular response to stress.

Student Final Presentation: Final Presentation.pptx
Student Final Report: finalpaper.pdf