Ophthalmology Commons^™

Genetic Modification Of Inherited Retinopathy In Mice, Yang Kong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The retina, as a critical component of the sensory system, consists of multiple cell types, of which, photoreceptors play a key role in receiving, integrating and transmitting light signals. The biofunctions of photoreceptors rely on their proper growth and development, which is predominantly governed by a cluster of molecules that comprise the transcriptional regulation for photoreceptor development. Any disruption of these molecules potentially incurs retinal pathologies.

It is known that deficiencies of nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group E member 3 (NR2E3) or neural retina leucine-zipper (NRL), two molecules in regulating photoreceptor cell development, cause photoreceptor dysplasia. In a sensitized chemical …

Deciphering Mechanisms Governing The Development Of The Rod Epigenome, Philip Andrew Ruzycki

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Precisely coordinated expression of distinct sets of genes is essential for cellular development and function, especially in complex multicellular organisms. This regulation is achieved by the action of transcription factors (TF), proteins that bind specific genomic locations and alter the activity state and packaging of the DNA to promote or repress gene expression. However, while tremendous effort has defined networks of transcription factors that work together to drive specific phenotypes, little is known about their differential activity at the hundreds or thousands of sites where they bind. There are also many questions regarding the basic principles of the packaging of …