Biological functions of commissureless and dNedd4 in axon guidance at the midline and in muscle synaptogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster.
Published: 2004
Language: eng
Number of pages: 144
Description: Ectopic expression of Comm(WT) in the muscles revealed a punctate, vesicular pattern, whereas, mutant Comm(2PY &rarr; AY and 10K &rarr; R) localizes to the muscle wall. Accordingly, aberrant muscle innervation is observed for the Comm(2PY &rarr; AY and 10K &rarr; R) mutants and also when dNedd4 is knocked-down by RNA interference.In this study, Drosophila melanogaster was used as an  in vivo model system to examine the biological function of Commissureless (Comm) and dNedd4 (n&barbelow;euronal precursor cell-e&barbelow;xpressed d&barbelow;evelopmentally d&barbelow;ownregulated 4) in the process of axon guidance and muscle synaptogenesis. I have generated UAS-comm (WT, 2PY &rarr; AY and 10K &rarr; R) transgenic flies as well as UAS-dNedd4RNAi flies to reduce endogenous dNedd4 protein.Panneural expression of Comm(10K &rarr; R) revealed a robo-like phenotype. Biochemical analysis revealed that Robo protein is reduced in the presence of Comm(10K &rarr; R), suggesting that Robo is unstable. Similarly, panneural expression of dNedd4RNAi also produces a phenotype, resembling the Comm(2PY &rarr; AY) mutant, with interruptions occurring along the longitudinal axons.
Notes: Adviser:  Daniela Rotin.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Toronto, 2004.

Electronic version licensed for access by U. of T. users.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 43-03, page: 0846.

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