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? Analysis of figures &/or tables: Basic design of the experiment: e.g. variables, controls, etc. Trends or other descriptive data they presented What types of analysis was performed on the data? Statistical, other? 10/17: Present your data

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

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

Abstract In groups, identify the first four items System Molecules pertinent to the study Terms Techniques Hypothesis or Goal In groups, identify the 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 confirm Zwilch part of complex Mass spectroscopy confirm Zwilch part of complex Localize to kinetochore & kinetochore microtubules same as ZW10/ROD Mutation same mitotic phenotypes as zw10/rod Evolutionarily conserved (drosophila & human same coppt 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 & to fund? Is the significance anywhere else in the paper? State one reason the research is significant Would it be correct to say…? The significance was to show/demonstrate…

Significance: General/Broad This study is significant because… 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 is significant because… cell division is critical to many essential processes of multicellular organisms: important to have a basic understanding of the process and of the regulation to ensure accuracy: new information may contribute to a better understanding of human health and disease … 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?

Figures & Panels Organized around a single hypothesis or goal Contains a set of experiments that expand upon or point to a single topic What is the goal of Figure 1? Of Figure 9?

…can show us trends and relationships. 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 & fxn 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 Treatments 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 Design of experiment Funding Control(s) Variables/Treatments Funding