Characterizing Genetic Interactions Data with Inositol Polyphosphate Kinases

Abstract

Inositol polyphosphate kinases are a diverse group of enzymes responsible for the production of inositol polyphosphates. From yeast to humans, the inositol polyphosphate pathway is highly conserved, and the enzymes and small molecules the pathway is composed of are attributed to a number of cellular roles. Despite extensive research, recent genetic interactions data suggest that they may be involved in other cellular functions that have not been previously studied: including tRNA modification and DNA damage repair. VIP1 and IPK1 display positive genetic interactions with the elongator protein (ELP) complex proteins and negative interactions with checkpoint regulator proteins Csm3, Mrc1, and Tof1. In addition to the genetic interactions data, it is well known that Vip1 and Ipk1 substrates are also utilized by Kcs1. This project addresses the role that inositol polyphosphate kinases, and/or their derivatives, may play in these two systems.