Life Sciences Commons^™

Negative Regulation Of The Kinase Lin-45 By The E3/E4 Ubiquitin Ligase Ufd-2, Augustin Deniaud

Theses and Dissertations

The serine/threonine kinase BRAF is a key part of the Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK pathway, an inducer of cell growth, differentiation, and survival. In humans, activating mutations, most commonly BRAF(V600E), have been detected in several cancers, including melanoma and thyroid cancer. In the Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog LIN-45, the equivalent mutation LIN-45(V627E) results in elevated Raf-MEK-ERK signaling. We performed an unbiased genetic screen to identify negative regulators of LIN-45(V627E). Here, we report the identification of the E3/E4 ubiquitin ligase UFD-2, and show it is a negative regulator of LIN-45 protein activity and levels. Loss of UFD-2 leads to accumulation of wild-type LIN-45 protein as …

The Role Of Phototaxis In The Initial Swim Bladder Inflation Of Larval Yellow Perch (Perca Flavescens)., Christopher Ryan Suchocki

Theses and Dissertations

The North Central Regional Aquaculture Center has designated the yellow perch (Perca flavescens) as a high priority species for culture. The demand for this species is high and it is estimated that the market could readily consume 50 to 100 million pounds per year. Tank culturing of yellow perch has several advantages over pond culture and this method has been growing in popularity, but is currently held back by problems in larval development. One of these problems, failed swim bladder inflation (SBI), is frequently reported in the literature as a bottleneck in the culture of many fishes. Unsuccessful SBI increases …

Development Of Mechanosensory Innervation In The Frog, Xenopus Laevis, Peter Andrew Feuk

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

DEVELOPMENT OF MECHANOSENSORY INNERVATION IN THE FROG, XENOPUS LAEVIS

by

Peter Feuk

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2017

Under the Supervision of Dr. R. David Heathcote

This study aims to investigate whether a specific target cell in the epidermis of the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, guides the initial outgrowth and pattern of Rohon-Beard (RB) cells and their survival. RB cells are primary mechanosensory neurons present during the early developmental stages of X. laevis. These neurons provide sensory input to the frog throughout embryonic and larval development before initiating apoptosis around the start of metamorphosis. The innervation of embryonic skin …

Applying The Water Governance Framework On Rural Water Development Projects In Guatemala, Muhanad M. Alkharaz

Theses and Dissertations

According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), ‘Water crisis is mainly a governance crisis’, (OECD, 2013). Many water experts, as individuals, organizations and even governmental bodies have developed water governance frameworks to overcome water challenges on local, national, and international levels such as Integrated Water Resource Management. In rural areas, especially in developing countries, access to safe drinking water is a daily challenge due to a variety of political, economic, and social constraints. For in-stance, some developing countries have a strong centralized governance system. Due to lack of capacity and resources, central governments are incapable of providing …

Role Of Non-Muscle Myosin Ii And Calcium In Zebrafish Midbrain-Hindbrain Boundary Morphogenesis, Srishti Upasana Sahu

Theses and Dissertations

Elucidating the molecular mechanisms that play a role in cellular morphogenesis is critical to our understanding of brain development and function. The midbrain-hindbrain boundary (MHB) is one of the first folds in the vertebrate embryonic brain and is highly conserved across species. We used the zebrafish MHB as a model for determining the molecular mechanisms that regulate these cell shape changes. Cellular morphogenesis is tightly regulated by signaling pathways that rearrange the cytoskeleton and produce mechanical forces that enable changes in cell and tissue morphology. The generation of force within a cell often depends on motor proteins, particularly non-muscle myosins …

The Role Of Gap-43 Phosphorylation In Axon Behavior In The Developing Zebrafish Visual System, Jennifer Forecki

Theses and Dissertations

Developing neurons extend processes to specific targets and establish connections that are essential for future function of the nervous system. One of these processes, the axon, has a motile tip called a growth cone that rearranges its membrane-associated actin cytoskeleton to turn toward or away from environmental guidance cues. Growth associated protein 43 (GAP-43) is one of the most abundant proteins associated with axonal growth cone membranes and is known to modulate the formation and stability of the actin cytoskeleton during axon guidance. Protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated phosphorylation of GAP-43 on serine 42 regulates its interactions with actin. Phosphorylated GAP-43 …