You are encouraged to attend the defence. The details of the defence and attendance information is included below:  

Date:  Wednesday, December 10, 2025 

Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM (PT)

Defence mode: Hybrid

In-Person Attendance: Senate Chambers, UNBC Prince George Campus  

Virtual Attendance: via Microsoft Teams 

Please contact the Office of Graduate Administration for information regarding remote attendance for online defences. 

To ensure the defence proceeds with no interruptions, please mute your audio and video on entry and do not inadvertently share your screen. The meeting will be locked to entry 5 minutes after it begins: please ensure you are on time.  

Thesis entitled: CHARACTERIZATION OF THE CMS342C STABLE INTRONIC SEQUENCE RNA AND DEVELOPMENT OF SULFADIAZINE AS A NEW SELECTABLE MARKER FOR CYANIDIOSCHYOZON MEROLAE

Abstract: 

Non-coding RNAs have emerged as key regulatory elements influencing transcription, RNA stability, and translation. Among these, stable intronic sequence RNAs (sisRNAs) are a class of intron-derived molecule that persist after splicing and may participate in post-transcriptional regulatory processes. This thesis focuses on the characterization of the CMS342C (S342) sisRNA in Cyanidioschyzon merolae, an extremophilic unicellular red alga that serves as a minimal model for studying eukaryotic gene regulation.

The main objective of this research was to investigate the function of recently discovery sisRNA, particularly its ability to form ribonucleoprotein complexes with specific protein partners. I developed antisense oligonucleotide affinity purification in order to be able to biochemically characterize the composition and structure of the sisRNP. Proteomic analysis of purified complexes revealed several associated proteins, among which a B-box domain–containing (BBX) protein showed consistent enrichment and emerged as a strong candidate interactor. BBX proteins are zinc-finger transcriptional regulators that play important roles in light signaling, stress response, and transcriptional control in higher plants and photosynthetic organisms. The identification of a BBX protein as a potential interactor with S342 provides novel evidence for RNA-protein regulatory interactions in C. merolae. This association suggests that S342 sisRNA may regulate the organism’s adaptive responses to environmental challenges such as light fluctuation and stress.

In addition to the functional characterization of S342 sisRNA, this study established sul1 as a new selectable marker for C. merolae. This genetic tool facilitates the introduction, tagging, and expression of transgenes, expanding the molecular toolkit available for manipulating this alga. The integration of both approaches, RNA-protein interaction analysis and genetic tool development, lays the basis for future studies of RNA-mediated regulation in C. merolae.

Defence Committee:  

Chair: Dr. Maryna Romanets, University of Northern British Columbia  

Supervisor: Dr. Stephen Rader, University of Northern British Columbia  

Committee Member: Dr. Kendra Furber, University of Northern British Columbia  

Committee Member: Dr. Andrea Gorrell, University of Northern British Columbia  

External Examiner: Dr. Leonard Foster, University of British Columbia