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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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)

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

10. 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…

11. 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

12. 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

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

14. 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?

15. …can show us trends and relationships.
Figures
…can show us trends and relationships.

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. Describe the Design…
Figure 5A
Does this panel have a hypothesis?

21.  Other elements Design of experiment Funding Control(s)
Variables/Treatments
Funding