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PhD_Thesis_Min_Edit_Final6.70 MB
Embargoed Access, Embargo ends: 06/29/2028
Dissertation
Novel roles for heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) in gene expression in Caenorhabditis elegans
University of Iowa
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
Spring 2026
DOI: 10.25820/etd.008533
Abstract
Maintaining cellular homeostasis through adaptive responses to external stimuli is fundamental to survival. While the Heat Shock Response (HSR) is often characterized by dramatic transcriptional shifts, it also requires precise regulatory control to ensure cellular integrity. HSF-1 (Heat Shock Factor 1) serves as the master regulator of the HSR, traditionally known for orchestrating the expression of cytoprotective heat shock proteins (HSPs). Through my thesis studies, I demonstrate that HSF-1’s role extends far beyond the large-scale induction of chaperones to encompass diverse non-canonical functions. Specifically, I observed that through HSF-1, C. elegans ensures RNA fidelity via the piRNA/22G-RNA pathway. Furthermore, HSF-1 facilitates the transfer of stress memory to progeny through epigenetic modification, specifically H3K9me2 at daf-2/IGFR loci. Additionally, I observed that C. elegans HSF-1 plays a critical role in maintaining genetic integrity in their cell pools by inhibiting the growth of aneuploid cells. Collectively, this body of work redefines HSF-1 as a multifaceted regulator of both the proteome and the genome. I believe my work contributes to the understanding of how faithful gene expression is preserved during stress.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Novel roles for heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) in gene expression in Caenorhabditis elegans
- Creators
- Sehee Min
- Contributors
- Veena Prahlad (Advisor)Josep Comeron (Committee Member)Anna Malkova (Committee Member)Miles Pufall (Committee Member)Tina Tootle (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Integrated Biology
- Date degree season
- Spring 2026
- DOI
- 10.25820/etd.008533
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- xii, 282 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2026 Sehee Min
- Language
- English
- Date submitted
- 03/06/2026
- Description illustrations
- Illustrations, graphs, charts, tables
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 247-282).
- Public Abstract (ETD)
Heat Shock Factor 1 (HSF1) is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis in response to environmental stressors, such as heat. This protective mechanism, known as the Heat Shock Response (HSR), is well-characterized by massive shifts in gene expression, notably the induction of heat shock proteins (HSPs). However, the precise fine-tuning of this regulation and the downstream biological events following stress remain less understood. This thesis demonstrates that HSF-1 plays a critical role in the fine-tuned transcriptional regulation of its targets through small RNAs and epigenetic processes. These findings are significant because elucidating how faithful gene expression is maintained provides vital insights for the development of genetic therapeutics, such as antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to intervene in diseases of aging and cancers.
- Academic Unit
- Biology
- Record Identifier
- 9985177176302771
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