Effects of MMD Protein on Drosophila Neuron Morphology
Advisor Information
Bruce Chase
Location
UNO Criss Library, Room 249
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
2-3-2018 10:30 AM
End Date
2-3-2018 10:45 AM
Abstract
ADAM (A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease) proteins are transmembrane proteins important for nervous system function, cancer metastasis, fertilization, and transitions from epithelial to mesenchymal states. The objective of this research is to determine the function of the ADAM protein encoded by the mind-meld (mmd) gene in Drosophila using a loss-of-function genetic approach. MMD is highly expressed in the nervous system and underneath the cuticle, especially during the late embryonic stage and pupal stage. MMD is closely related to human ADAM 11, ADAM 22, and ADAM 23, which are all important for nervous system development. Therefore, we hypothesized that MMD is essentially for nervous system formation, and that the knock down of MMD would be lethal to flies. Multiple crosses were performed to obtain genotypes in which interference RNA (RNAi) using the GAL80 GAL4/UAS system could be used to knock down MMD in defined neurons. After the fly brain was dissected and fixed, immunofluorescence labeling was performed to stain the neurons with loss of MMD function, and those neurons were visualized using confocal microscopy. No visible change in neuronal morphology was observed in those neurons. Follow up studies were done to knockdown MMD in the entire nervous system, in the ovary, and in all cells. Surprisingly, no visible mutant effects were observed in any of the MMD-knockdown flies. Western blots will need to be done in the future to confirm that the MMD knockdown was effective. Bioinformatic analysis will also be done to re-evaluate the potential functions of MMD in Drosophila.
Effects of MMD Protein on Drosophila Neuron Morphology
UNO Criss Library, Room 249
ADAM (A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease) proteins are transmembrane proteins important for nervous system function, cancer metastasis, fertilization, and transitions from epithelial to mesenchymal states. The objective of this research is to determine the function of the ADAM protein encoded by the mind-meld (mmd) gene in Drosophila using a loss-of-function genetic approach. MMD is highly expressed in the nervous system and underneath the cuticle, especially during the late embryonic stage and pupal stage. MMD is closely related to human ADAM 11, ADAM 22, and ADAM 23, which are all important for nervous system development. Therefore, we hypothesized that MMD is essentially for nervous system formation, and that the knock down of MMD would be lethal to flies. Multiple crosses were performed to obtain genotypes in which interference RNA (RNAi) using the GAL80 GAL4/UAS system could be used to knock down MMD in defined neurons. After the fly brain was dissected and fixed, immunofluorescence labeling was performed to stain the neurons with loss of MMD function, and those neurons were visualized using confocal microscopy. No visible change in neuronal morphology was observed in those neurons. Follow up studies were done to knockdown MMD in the entire nervous system, in the ovary, and in all cells. Surprisingly, no visible mutant effects were observed in any of the MMD-knockdown flies. Western blots will need to be done in the future to confirm that the MMD knockdown was effective. Bioinformatic analysis will also be done to re-evaluate the potential functions of MMD in Drosophila.