The Attractin Gene

The remainder of my time in the laboratory this week, I have been continuing the steps necessary to sequence intron 17 and intron 4 in the attractin gene. I have dedicated a large amount of time to troubleshooting issues with the PCR reactions, diluting new DNA samples to the desired concentrations and running gradient PCR reactions that vary the temperature at which the primer attaches to the DNA sample to determine the optimal temperature for the PCR reaction. I am eager to conclude my optimizing stage of the PCR reactions and again begin to collect DNA sequences for numerous additional samples. I also concluded this week by sending samples out for sequencing, which I look forward to analyzing and cleaning when I return to the laboratory next week.

I further continued researching the attractin gene this week, focusing on its pleiotropic effects (many seemingly unrelated effects) throughout the body. Much of the research focuses on the role of the attractin gene in obesity and disrupting the normal behavior of the central nervous system (creating effects such as tremors). Additionally, the research I have been conducting indicates that there are two types of proteins coded for in the attractin gene: membrane- and secreted-type proteins. Membrane proteins are associated with the protective barrier (membrane) that surrounds a cell and secreted proteins are sent out of the cell, usually first passing through the Golgi complex for preparation to be excreted from the cell. The roles of these two proteins differ, which is why they were discovered independently of one another. Secreted-type attractin mediates monocyte (a white blood cell that ingests foreign material) spreading and T-cell (a white blood cell that searches for and destroys foreign material) clustering. The membrane-type attractin protein regulates agouti-dependent pigmentation, energy metabolism, and myelination (the gathering of tissue [myelin sheaths] around nerve fibers) in the central nervous system. Humans and rats contain both the secreted-type and membrane-type attractin, while mice contain only the membrane-type attractin protein. A majority of the studies concerning the attractin gene discuss attractin with reference to its many pleiotropic effects, and occasionally in relation to its role with the agouti gene in the pigmentation process. This research is fascinating, as a single gene holds such importance beyond coloration alone!