Focus: I currently want to examine how HIF-1 influences apoptosis in C. elegans. Specifically, through examining the germline apoptosis in response to Ionizing Radiation in PRMT-5 mutants, PRMT-5 or Protein Arginine Methyltransferase, which is a HIF-1 and HIF-2 repressor.

Hypothesis: PRMT-5 (HIF-1 and HIF-2 repressor) acts as a negative regulator in CEP-1/p53 apoptosis.

So I will test whether…

Inactivation of PRMT-5 increased germ cell apoptosis after inducing DNA Damage — to help determine whether PRMT-5 is critical in DNA damage apoptosis and acts as negative regulator for p53 apoptosis.

How: Instead of common Ionizing radiation treatments, I will be replicating DNA Damage induced apoptosis with DNA Alkylating Agent H2O2 and then staining both wild type and PRMT-5 with AO stain. Then, I will observe the apoptotic corpses under a fluorescence microscope.

In May of 2019 I briefly studied the effect of Juul E-liquid on C. Elegans and its physiological effect based on a 2015 study done by Daniel Panitz, Harsha Swamy, and Keith Nehrke (see below).