Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 9 of 9
Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network
Regulation Of Genome Architecture By Chromatin Remodeling In The Brain, Jared Vega Goodman
Regulation Of Genome Architecture By Chromatin Remodeling In The Brain, Jared Vega Goodman
Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Brain development requires exquisite control of gene expression to establish and refine the proper circuitry of the nervous system. Gene expression control is under the purview of several cellular processes, including chromatin regulation in the form of DNA modification, histone modification, and nucleosome remodeling. Chromatin remodeling enzymes are the major effectors of nucleosome remodeling. These enzymes are clearly involved in brain development – mutations in chromatin remodeling enzymes are likely causative for neurodevelopmental disorders of cognition. Chromatin remodeling enzymes have discrete molecular functions and binding profiles and similarly control distinct phases of nervous system maturation. Chd4 is a Chd family …
Serum Response Factor Regulates Multiple Aspects Of Central Nervous System Development, Puo Yuan Lu
Serum Response Factor Regulates Multiple Aspects Of Central Nervous System Development, Puo Yuan Lu
All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)
SRF is a highly evolutionary conserved activity-dependent transcription factor. Previous studies have shown that neuron-specific deletion of SRF results in deficits in tangential cell migration, guidance-dependent circuit assembly, activity-dependent gene expression, and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. However, very little is known in terms of whether SRF participates in earlier aspects of central nervous system development such as neuronal projection establishment, cell-fate specifications, and neural stem cell homeostasis and survival. We report that SRF is critical for development of major axonal tracts in the forebrain. Conditional mutant mice lacking SRF in neural progenitor cells: Srf-Nestin-cKO) exhibit striking deficits in cortical …
Mechanisms Of Early Brain Morphogenesis, Benjamen Filas
Mechanisms Of Early Brain Morphogenesis, Benjamen Filas
All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)
In structures with obvious mechanical function, like the heart and bone, the relationship of mechanical forces to growth and development has been well studied. In contrast, other than the problem of neurulation: formation of the neural tube), developmental mechanisms in the nervous system have received relatively little attention. The central aim of this research is to characterize the biophysical mechanisms that shape the early embryonic brain. Experiments were performed primarily in the chicken brain, which is morphologically similar to humans during early stages of development. Proposed mechanisms were tested using computational models to ensure that hypotheses are consistent with physical …
The Importance Of Glucose Transport In Reproductive Events, Katie Adastra
The Importance Of Glucose Transport In Reproductive Events, Katie Adastra
All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)
ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION The Importance of Glucose Transport in Reproductive Events by Katie Lynn Adastra Doctor of Philosophy in Biology and Biomedical Sciences Developmental, Regenerative and Stem Cell Biology Washington University in St. Louis, 2012 Professor Kelle H. Moley, Chairperson Successful pregnancy outcome is contingent on a number of factors, the earliest of which include the events occurring during early pregnancy. This time period from fertilization to implantation requires drastic changes in both the embryo and the uterus, including cell proliferation and differentiation. Alterations in environment may lead to adverse effects during any of these stages. This emphasizes the …
Joint Functions Of Mett-10 And Dynein In The Caenorhabditis Elegans Germ Line, Maia Dorsett
Joint Functions Of Mett-10 And Dynein In The Caenorhabditis Elegans Germ Line, Maia Dorsett
All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)
During normal development as well as in diseased states such as cancer, extracellular "niches" often provide cues to proximal cells and activate intracellular pathways. Activation of such signaling pathways in turn instructs cellular proliferation and differentiation. In the C.elegans gonad, GLP-1/Notch signaling instructs germ line stem cells to self renew through mitotic cell division. As germ cells progressively move out of the niche, they differentiate by entering meiosis and eventually form gametes. Using this model system, I uncovered a cooperative role for the METT-10 putative methyltransferase and the dynein motor complex in regulating the balance between germ cell proliferation and …
The Role Of Snail Homolog 1 In Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation, Jennifer Gill
The Role Of Snail Homolog 1 In Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation, Jennifer Gill
All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)
During gastrulation, epiblast cells undergo an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition: EMT) as they ingress through the primitive streak and form mesoderm. To better understand the molecular pathways of EMT during this developmental transition, we developed a model system utilizing mouse embryonic stem: ES) cells. We show that EMT occurs during ES cell differentiation and is dependent on the Wnt signaling pathway. We further show that the Wnt-dependent transcription factor Snail homolog 1: Snail) is expressed and capable of inducing EMT in differentiating ES cells. In addition to EMT, Snail accelerates differentiation, promotes mesoderm commitment, and restricts markers of primitive ectoderm and epiblast. …
Suprachiasmatic Nuclei Development: A Characterization Of Transcription Factors And The Influence Of Retinal Innervation And Vip Signaling, Cassandra Vandunk
Suprachiasmatic Nuclei Development: A Characterization Of Transcription Factors And The Influence Of Retinal Innervation And Vip Signaling, Cassandra Vandunk
All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)
The suprachiasmatic nuclei: SCN) are highly specialized neural structures with an essential behavioral function; creating the rhythm of the mammalian central clock and entraining that internal clock to the external world. The nuclei each consist of approximately 10,000 neurons, each capable of creating near 24 h rhythms, organized into a highly structured network. While the molecular clockwork underlying the rhythm within neurons and network properties have been well studied, how the nuclei are initially specified and how the network develops is poorly understood. Herein, we seek to elucidate the genes and mechanisms involved in the specification and development of SCN …
Mechanics Of Heart Tube Formation In The Early Chick Embryo, Victor Varner
Mechanics Of Heart Tube Formation In The Early Chick Embryo, Victor Varner
All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)
The heart is the first functioning organ to form in the embryo. For decades, biologists have worked to identify many of the genetic and molecular factors involved in heart development, and over the years, these efforts have helped elucidate the vast biochemical signaling networks, which drive cardiac specification and differentiation in the embryo. Still, the biophysical mechanisms which link these molecular factors to actual, physical changes in cardiac morphology remain unclear. The aim of this thesis is to identify some of the mechanical forces which drive heart tube assembly in the early chick embryo. A unique feature of this work …
Egfr Signaling Regulates Synaptic Connectivity Via Gurken, Sarah Naylor
Egfr Signaling Regulates Synaptic Connectivity Via Gurken, Sarah Naylor
All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)
The synapse is the essential unit of neural function. It is critical to understand how synapses form during development, how they are maintained throughout the life of an organism, and how their structure and function are affected by neural activity. An understanding of these aspects of synapses will likely provide insight into the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, mental retardation or epilepsy. To identify novel regulators of synaptic development, I screened for mutants with defects in synaptic morphology and growth at the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction: NMJ). My screen identified several mutants with defects in various aspects of …