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Determining The Origin Of Changing Β-Catenin Concentrations In Zebrafish Oocytes During Maturation, Nathan Pincus

Summer Research

During maturation, oocytes (immature eggs) progress from prophase I to metaphase II of meiosis, and a multitude of other cellular changes occur. β-catenin is a unique protein as it is involved in cell-cell adhesion when it is bound in plasma membrane complexes, and acts as a transcription factor when freed into the cytoplasm and allowed to move into the nucleus. β-catenin has been found to take part in signaling pathways such as the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which inhibits β-catenin degradation, and subsequently regulates gene transcription. β-catenin has also been found to exist in distinct molecular forms depending on its role, which …