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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Delineating The Role Of Mir-124 For The Activation Of Neuronal Program, Ya-Lin Lu
Delineating The Role Of Mir-124 For The Activation Of Neuronal Program, Ya-Lin Lu
Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The ectopic expression of two brain-enriched microRNAs (miRNAs), miR-9/9* and miR-124 (miR-9/9*-124), can robustly and efficiently reprogram human skin fibroblasts into neurons. The miRNAs act as repressors of non-neuronal genes in fibroblasts for the induction of the neuronal program. This process is analogous to neurogenesis in vivo when the expression of miR-9/9* and miR-124 represses anti-neurogenic genes such as REST or NRSF (neuron-restrictive silencer factor/repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor). Although we have some mechanistic insights into how miR-9/9*-124 drives fate conversion by acting as negative regulators of gene expression, little remained understood of the role of miRNAs as positive regulators …
Regulation Of Yolk Microtubule Dynamics By Dachsous Cadherins, Gina Danielle Castelvecchi
Regulation Of Yolk Microtubule Dynamics By Dachsous Cadherins, Gina Danielle Castelvecchi
Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The process of epiboly, or the thinning and spreading of a tissue, is a well-conserved morphogenetic process. As one of four conserved gastrulation cell movements, epiboly is important to help organize the overall body plan. Epiboly in zebrafish involves the thinning and spreading of the blastoderm originating from the animal pole to completely enclose the yolk. It is driven by a multitude of physical processes that involve the three cell types comprising the embryo: the yolk syncytial layer (YSL), enveloping layer (EVL), and deep cells. These physical aspects can be broadly described as involving cell-cell interactions through adhesion proteins, actomyosin …
Notch-Mediated Regulation Of Atrial Arrhythmogenesis, Catherine Lipovsky
Notch-Mediated Regulation Of Atrial Arrhythmogenesis, Catherine Lipovsky
Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Abnormalities in electrical impulse generation and/or propagation that affect the heartճ normal rhythm are extremely common. Clinically, cardiac arrhythmias are prevalent worldwide, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying their pathology remain largely unknown. Current treatments for arrhythmias primarily target symptoms rather than the underlying cause and these treatments have limited efficacy. The most common risk factor for developing an arrhythmia is a previous cardiac injury; however, the mechanisms underlying this are not well described. My thesis work has demonstrated that the Notch signaling pathway, which is crucial for cardiac patterning and development and is normally quiescent in adult cardiomyocytes (CMs), is …
Transcriptional And Epigenetic Regulation Of Cerebellar Development And Function, Naveen C. Reddy
Transcriptional And Epigenetic Regulation Of Cerebellar Development And Function, Naveen C. Reddy
Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Precise control of gene expression is essential for neural development and function. This control is regulated by the interplay of chromatin remodelers and transcription factors (TFs). To better understand these mechanisms involved in gene regulation, we pursue two questions: 1) what are the roles of the chromatin remodeler CHD7 in cerebellar development and 2) what are the roles of the MEF2 TF family in cerebellar function. CHD7 mutations are causative for CHARGE syndrome, a heterogeneous disorder affecting many organ systems, occurring in 1:10,000 newborns. Recent MRI studies have identified cerebellar hypoplasia and foliation defects in a large portion of CHARGE …
Fgf18 In Postnatal Lung Development, Andrew Hagan
Fgf18 In Postnatal Lung Development, Andrew Hagan
Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The lung is a respiratory organ capable of facilitating gas exchange between external atmospheric O2 and internal CO2 in the bloodstream, necessary to oxygenate tissues. Alveoli, small balloon shaped structures at the distal end of the respiratory tree, are the meeting point between air and blood where gas exchange occurs through simple diffusion. Generation of functionally mature alveoli occurs during alveologenesis, the final postnatal stage of lung development in mice. During alveologenesis the surface area of the lung increases through formation of septal ridges (septation) which are extracellular matrix rich invaginations of the nascent alveolar wall that subdivide the alveoli. …
Fgf20 In Olfactory System And Cochlea Development, Lu Morgan Yang
Fgf20 In Olfactory System And Cochlea Development, Lu Morgan Yang
Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The olfactory epithelium (OE) is a neurosensory organ required for the sense of smell. Turbinates, bony projections from the nasal cavity wall, increase the surface area within the nasal cavity lined by the OE. We identified a population of OE progenitor cells that expand horizontally during development to populate all lineages of the mature OE and increase OE surface area. We show that these Fgf20-positive, epithelium-spanning progenitor (FEP) cells are responsive to Wnt/β-Catenin signaling. Wnt signaling suppresses FEP cell differentiation into OE basal progenitors and their progeny, and positively regulates Fgf20 expression. We further show that FGF20 signals to the …