Elucidating the ESRE Stress Response Network

Abstract

The ethanol and stress response element (ESRE) network in Caenorhabditis elegans regulates stress - induced gene expression. The ESRE network is highly c onserved and is involved in responding to a variety of environmental stresses. The ESRE motif is predicted to be the binding site of an unknown transcription factor, termed the ESRE - binding protein (EBP). This project aims to identify the EBP and other p otential ESRE regulatory molecules using a combined approach of RNAi and mutational genetic screens. The RNAi screen consisted of knocking down known transcription factors and signaling molecules in C. elegans and looking for a subsequent decrease in an E SRE - dependent fluorescence reporter signal, indicating interference with the ESRE stress response. The mutational screen consisted of inducing random mutations in the genome and looking for a change in the expression of ESRE - dependent fluorescence reporte rs. This screen resulted in gain - of - function mutations that cause constitutive expression of ESRE genes as well as loss - of - function mutations that cause a reduced ESRE response after induction of stress. Further analysis of the selected candidates may rev eal the identity of members of the ESRE regulatory network