My research involves elucidating the role of Arf-GTPase activating proteins (Arf-GAPs) in sporulation. Gcs1 is a known Arf-GAP that functions in membrane trafficking in vegetative cells.  This protein is required for transport from the Golgi to late endosomes and also in retrograde transport from the Golgi to the endoplasmic reticulum.  While the role of Gcs1 is known in vegetative cells, Gcs1 has yet to be analyzed in sporulation.  My studies have revealed that GCS1 plays an important role in sporulation.  Cells deleted for GCS1 initiate the sporulation program but are unable to produce mature prospore membranes. Meanwhile, analysis of Gcs1-GFP shows that Gcs1p is localized to the prospore membrane in sporulating cells. The overall goal of my work is to elucidate the specific role of Gcs1p in this developmentally regulated process.

Gcs1-GFP

Posters; Abstracts; Conferences:
Jaime Connolly, Simon Rudge, and JoAnne Engebrecht (2002) Differential role of the phosphoinositide transfer protein, Sec14, in vegetative cells and sporulation, presented at The 2002 Yeast Genetics and Molecular Biology Meeting, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, July 30-August 4.

 Jaime Connolly and JoAnne Engebrecht (2003). Functional Analysis of Arf-GAPs in Sporulation.  Presented at the 2003 MCB NIH Training Grant Retreat at Fallen Leaf Lake, South Lake Tahoe, California, October 10-12. (University of California, Davis, California)