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Show 74 Seth Merkley college of science Major Urinary Proteins, or MUPs, are a diverse set of about 30 related proteins that have been shown to be involved in scent-based communication in house mice. Because synthesis of protein is a substantial investment, the concentration of protein excreted in the urine can be thought of as an honest reflection of the fitness status of that individual, often referred to as an "odorous peacock's tail." Because MUPs have been shown to play a role in communication of a male's physiological and genetic status to females as well as to other males, it follows that they would be important in social behavior of mice. The first hypothesis tested in our ongoing research is that increased MUP expression correlates with increased social stress. The second hypothesis is that differential regulation of MUP genes has an epigenetic basis. Our experimental design includes two treatments. One group of mice (the "selected" treatment) experienc-es high density social condition, including competition for territory and mates, in a semi-natural enclosure. The other group (the "non-selected" treatment) are individually housed and participate only in controlled mating. This group is sheltered from the physiological affects of social competition. Urine samples from individuals of each treatment are then collected and analyzed using spectrophotome-try techniques, which allow for direct determination and comparison of urinary protein concentration. Pre-liminary results have shown that MUPs are indeed expressed in higher concentrations by selected males. Current and future research will continue collection and analysis of urine samples and is expected to further establish a correlation between high social density and increased MUP expression. When this is complete, samples will be analyzed via bisulfite sequencing to determine whether or not differential expression of MUPs has an epigenetic basis. EPIGENETIC CONTROL OF DIFFERENTIAL PROTIEN EXPRESSION IN MUS MUSCULUS Seth Merkley (Wayne Potts) Department of Biology University of Utah UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ABSTRACTS Wayne Potts |