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Genetic Analysis Of Rhoa Signaling During Epithelial Morphogenesis In Drosophila, Amanda Fitch Leppert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Epithelial morphogenesis is contingent upon cell shape changes. Cell shape changes are the driving force for the metamorphosis of the adult Drosophila leg from the leg imaginal disc precursor. Genetic analysis has identified several Drosophila genes involved in regulating cell shape changes during leg disc morphogenesis. These include members of the RhoA signaling pathway and the product of the Stubble-stubbloid (Sb-sbd) locus, a transmembrane serine protease. Mutations in the Sb-sbd gene interact genetically with the members of the RhoA signaling pathway, however the nature of the relationship between Sb-sbd serine protease activity and RhoA signaling is not understood. To identify …