Primary Research Paper: Cell & Molecular Biology What is Zwilch?

Questions for Research Article What is the significance of the research conducted? What were the questions asked, hypotheses proposed, or goal of the research? Analyze two figures: Describe the basic design of the experiment (e.g. variables, controls, etc.) Explain the trends or other descriptive data presented? Your instructor may also want statistical analysis

Sections of an Article Title Abstract Intro Fig … fig legends… results… methods Discussion References See Elements of Scientific Writing, electronic handout on website, for more details Some content found in numerous sections. Isn’t that redundant? Are scientists just poor writers?

Title Tells what was accomplished in the paper Rephrase the title in your own words

Abstract In groups, identify these first four items System Molecules pertinent to the study Terms Techniques Hypothesis or Goal In groups, identify these first four items

Hypothesis State the hypothesis as an “if this… then” statement

Hypothesis Goal: to identify other components (than ZW10/ROD) of the complex necessary for accurate chromosome segregation -or- If Zwilch is an important component of the chromosome segregation complex…

Then… Immunoaffinity chromatography will confirm Zwilch part of complex Mass spectroscopy will confirm Zwilch part of complex Localize to kinetochore & kinetochore microtubules same as ZW10/ROD Mutation result in same mitotic phenotypes as zw10/rod Evolutionarily conserved (drosophila & human same co- precipitate w/ ZW10/ROD and localized to kinetochores at prometaphase)

New questions: weak interaction w/ kinesin-like kinetochore component CENP-meta

Introduction Significance…Why was this research important to do and to fund?! Is the significance anywhere else in the paper?

Significance This study is significant because … State one reason the research is significant Would it be correct to say…? The significance was to show/demonstrate…

Significance: General/Broad cell division is critical to many essential processes of multicellular organisms: growth & development, reproduction important to have a basic understanding of the process and of the regulation to ensure accuracy: deformity, cancer new information may contribute to a better understanding of human health and disease

Significance: Specific to this paper this study can contribute to our understanding of molecular interactions essential for accurate cell division by identifying and describing novel components of the kinetochore apparatus Be sure that your description of the significance includes both broad and specific implications of the work

Figure Legends Type of info Type of assay or experiment Results or conclusion Look at each figure legend title. What does it tell us?

Figure & Panels Are organized around a single hypothesis or goal A set of experiments that expand upon or point to a single topic What is the goal of Figure1? Of Figure 9?

Figures …can show us trends and relationships.

Trends or Relationship Data: photos of protein gels sequence alignment diagram pictures of cells The relationships illustrated were: interaction w/ ZW10/ROD colocalization correlation of their activities Supporting evidence: Evolutionary relationship, based on sequence and similarity of localization & function in human cells

Design of the experiment First explain… See Fig 1 & 3: What kind of data are you looking at? Fig 1: Gel of proteins from column: before, after binding, after elution Fig 3: Cytological smears of chromosomes during division Basic Design Control(s) Variables/Treatments Trends, Relationships, Outcomes

Describe the design… (Figure 1) Variable: binding or not to the column Negative Control: total protein present before column binding Results: Nonspecific binding (Negative control for binding): dynein Specific binding (positive control for binding): ZW10, ROD Zwilch bound similarly to ZW10 & ROD

Describe the design… (Figure 3) Variable: mutation Control: Wild type: wt (A, E) Treatments: Mutant Zwilch (B, C, D, F, G, H) Methods: Aceto-orcein stains chromatin red Colchicine used to stop cells in metaphase (top row) Cells stopped in anaphase (bottom row) Mutation of Zwilch negatively affected cell division

Describe the design… (Figure 5A) Does this panel have a hypothesis?

Other elements Funding References