Developmental Biology Commons^™

Exploring The Role Of Tgfbr2 During Zebrafish Sclerotome Development, Nooralhuda Feron

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Zebrafish, Danio rerio, are used as a source model organism for human development of the tendons, bones, and ligaments. The sclerotome is an embryonic structure known as the somite. The sclerotome gives rise to axial bones and tendons. During development, different genes are involved and affect how these skeletal tissues develop. Specifically, within this project, the effects of Twist1b and Twist2 were studied to see their effects on tendon formation, as they are expressed within the developing sclerotome tissue. Transforming growth factor beta receptor type-2 (Tgfbr2) has been shown to be involved in tendon formation (Subramanian, Kanzaki, Galloway and …

Arid1a Haploinsufficiency Initiates Neural Crest Transformation In A Mouse Model Of Mycn-Driven Neuroblastoma, Kirby A. Wallace

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Mouse models of cancer are critical for developing therapeutic treatments for pediatric patients. Recent sequencing studies of neuroblastoma (NBL) patient tumors have uncovered precise deletions in the chromatin remodeler and tumor suppressor gene (TSG) ARID1A. Additional causal studies supported ARID1A’s candidacy as a putative 1p36 TSG in MYCN-driven NBL. This study aimed to causally test Arid1a loss during Mycn-driven NBL initiation through the development of a mouse model of high risk NBL.In this study, we modified a Mycn-driven mouse model of NBL to incorporate Cre mediated deletion of floxed Arid1a. Briefly, in freshly isolated embryonic day 9.5 primary trunk neural …

A Micro-Optic Stalk (Muos) System To Model The Collective Migration Of Retinal Neuroblasts, Stephanie Zhang, Miles Markey, Caroline D. Pena, Tadmiri Venkatesh, Maribel Vasquez

Publications and Research

Contemporary regenerative therapies have introduced stem-like cells to replace damaged neurons in the visual system by recapitulating critical processes of eye development. The collective migration of neural stem cells is fundamental to retinogenesis and has been exceptionally well-studied using the fruit fly model of Drosophila Melanogaster. However, the migratory behavior of its retinal neuroblasts (RNBs) has been surprisingly understudied, despite being critical to retinal development in this invertebrate model. The current project developed a new microfluidic system to examine the collective migration of RNBs extracted from the developing visual system of Drosophila as a model for the collective motile processes …

Inferring Tunicate Relationships And The Evolution Of The Tunicate Hox Cluster With The Genome Of Corella Inflata, M. B. Debiasse, William N. Colgan , '19, Lincoln J. Harris , '17, Bradley Justin Davidson , '91, J. F. Ryan

Biology Faculty Works

Tunicates, the closest living relatives of vertebrates, have served as a foundational model of early embryonic development for decades. Comparative studies of tunicate phylogeny and genome evolution provide a critical framework for analyzing chordate diversification and the emergence of vertebrates. Towards this goal, we sequenced the genome of Corella inflata (Ascidiacea, Phlebobranchia), so named for the capacity to brood self-fertilized embryos in a modified, “inflated” atrial chamber. Combining the new genome sequence for Co. inflata with publicly available tunicate data, we estimated a tunicate species phylogeny, reconstructed the ancestral Hox gene cluster at important nodes in the tunicate tree, and …

Variation In Brown Rat Cranial Shape Shows Directional Selection Over 120 Years In New York City, Emily E. Puckett, Emma Sherratt, Matthew Combs, Elizabeth J. Carlen, William Harcourt-Smith, Jason Munshi-South

Publications and Research

Urbanization exposes species to novel environments and selection pressures that may change morphological traits within a population. We investigated how the shape and size of crania and mandibles changed over time within a population of brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) living in Manhattan, New York, USA, a highly urbanized environment. We measured 3D landmarks on the cranium and mandible of 62 adult individuals sampled in the 1890s and 2010s. Static allometry explained approximately 22% of shape variation in crania and mandible datasets, while time accounted for approximately 14% of variation. We did not observe significant changes in skull size through time …

Cysteine Dioxygenase Enzyme Activity And Gene Expression In The Dimorphic Pathogenic Fungus Histoplasma Capsulatum Is In Both The Mold And Yeast Morphotypes And Exhibits Substantial Strain Variation, Melissa Adams, Glen Shearer

Faculty Publications

In the dimorphism (mold/yeast) Histoplasma capsulatum (Hc) literature are reports that yeast (the so-called pathogenic form) uniquely expresses a cysteine dioxygenase (CDO, approx. 10,500 dal) activity which the mold morphotype (the so-called saprophytic soil form) does not express (C.F., Kumar et al., Biochem 22, 762, 1983). This yeast-specific CDO activity is postulated to play a critical role in the mold-to-yeast shift. A number of years ago, our lab isolated the gene encoding the Hc cysteine dioxygenase (CDO1, Genbank accession AY804144) and noted significant expression in the mold morphotype of several Histoplasma strains and also determined that the predicted protein would …

Gene Expression Pattern Analysis Of Anterior Hox Genes During Zebrafish (Danio Rerio) Embryonic Development Reveals Divergent Expression Patterns From Other Teleosts, Adam Davis

Georgia Journal of Science

The regional identity of organs and organ systems along the anterior-posterior axis during embryonic development is patterned, in part, by Hox genes, which encode transcription factor proteins that activate or repress the expression of downstream target genes. Divergent nested Hox gene expression patterns may have had a role in facilitating morphological divergence of structures, such as the pharyngeal jaw apparatus, among evolutionarily divergent teleost fishes. Recent studies from several evolutionarily divergent teleosts, such as the Japanese Medaka (Oryzias latipes) and the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), have shown the presence of divergent expression patterns of several Hox …

The Bioethical Significance Of “The Origin Of Man’S Ethical Behavior” (October 1941, Unpublished) By Ernest Everett Just And Hedwig Anna Schnetzler Just, Theodore Walker Jr.

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Abstract –

E. E. Just (1883-1941) is an acknowledged “pioneer” in cell biology, and he is perhaps the pioneer in study of egg cell fertilization. Here we discover that Just also made pioneering contributions to general biology and evolutionary bioethics.

Within Just’s published contributions to observational cell biology, there are substantial fragments of his theory of ethical behavior, a theory with roots in cell biology. In addition to such previously available fragments, Just’s fully developed theory is now available. This recently discovered unpublished book-length manuscript argues for the biological origins of ethical behavior (evolving from cells to humans, within a …

Cellular And Developmental Insights Into The Early Evolution Of Muscle, Jeffrey J. Colgren

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Whereas a great deal has been learned about the molecular underpinnings of morphological evolution in animals, much less is known about the origin of novel cell and tissue types. During the time in which the earliest animal lineages were diversifying, fundamental cell and tissue types, such as muscles, arose. Sponges are one of two animal lineages that lack muscles, yet they undergo coordinated full body contractions. Whereas the signaling processes have been studied, the physical mechanisms of contraction are completely uncharacterized. The main purpose of this work is to understand the primary contractile tissue of the sponge Ephydatia muelleri, …

Cis-Regulatory Analysis Of Onecut1 Expression In Fate-Restricted Retinal Progenitor Cells, Sruti Patoori, Nathalie Jean-Charles, Ariana Gopal, Sacha Sulaiman, Sneha Gopal, Brian Wang, Benjamin Souferi, Mark Emerson

Publications and Research

Background: The vertebrate retina consists of six major classes of neuronal cells. During development, these cells are generated from a pool of multipotent retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) that express the gene Vsx2. Fate-restricted RPCs have recently been identified, with limited mitotic potential and cell fate possibilities compared to multipotent RPCs. One population of fate-restricted RPCs, marked by activity of the regulatory element ThrbCRM1, gives rise to both cone photoreceptors and horizontal cells. These cells do not express Vsx2, but co-express the transcription factors (TFs) Onecut1 and Otx2, which bind to ThrbCRM1. The components of the gene regulatory networks that control …

Ciliogenesis And Cilia-Mediated Signaling In Cardiac Valve Development And Disease, Diana Bridget Fulmer

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) are serious heart conditions that affect a combined 3-4% of the world population. These diseases carry high risk for secondary complications including arrhythmia, blood regurgitation, and sudden cardiac death. Often, valve diseases are heritable and have complex origins that are not fully understood. The lack of knowledge about valve disease causation likely contributes to the absence of non-surgical treatment options for this patient population. Recent work by our lab and others has demonstrated a link between defects in primary cilia and the development of heart valve disease in humans. Primary cilia …

Distal Urogenital Anatomy Of Male Prairie Racerunners, Aspidoscelis Sexlineatus Viridis (Reptilia: Sauria: Teiidae), Stanley E. Trauth

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

I examined histologically the distal urogenital anatomy in male Prairie Racerunners (Aspidoscelis sexlineatus viridis) from a small seasonal sample of individuals collected in Arkansas in order to provide additional information regarding squamate urogenital anatomy. Specifically, I focused on the basic anatomy and positioning of posterior ducts and associated structures in this teiid lizard. The anatomical structures included the ductus deferens, ampulla ductus deferens, ampulla urogenital papilla (Aup), ureter, inner core tissue mass, urodaeum, and the urogenital papilla. The two Aup, which are small complimentary blind pouches representing the terminal repositories for products released by urogenital ducts, are striking …

In Situ Analysis Of Line-1 Promoter Activity Using Lacz Transgenic Mice, Partha Sarathi Saha

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Apart from an evolutionary role, transposable elements have been implicated in animal development and also in pathophysiology. Non-LTR retrotransposons– LINE-1, Alu and SVA - are responsible for over 120 cases of human genetic diseases as heritable insertions, and are emerging as an important etiological factor for cancer and neurological disorders as somatic mutations. It is estimated that among the total number of 500,000 LINE-1s presents in the human genome, 80-100 LINE-1s remain competent for retrotransposition. Retrotransposition is only possible when LINE-1 is expressed. Because LINE-1 transcription is regulated by its 5’UTR promoter, it is essential to understand the spatiotemporal control …

Dynein Light Chain 1 Functions As A Cofactor For Post-Transcriptional Mrna Regulation And Rna Granule Assembly, Nicholas Day

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Gene regulation is essential for ensuring maintenance, proliferation, and proper development of a cell. RNA binding proteins (RBPs) regulate gene expression by targeting and binding mRNAs to control their translation and often localize to cytoplasmic assemblies of protein and RNA called RNA granules to facilitate post-transcriptional mRNA regulation. Using C. elegans as a model organism, we report on the function of dynein light chain 1 (DLC-1), a subunit of the dynein motor complex, in post-transcriptional mRNA regulation in the gonad. Previous work suggests that DLC-1 is an RBP cofactor that functions independent of the dynein motor. It is unknown how …

Characterizing Changes In The Colonic Epithelium Of Lrig3 Null Mice, Natalie Pedicino

Scripps Senior Theses

The lining of the colon, or colonic epithelium, is a very dynamic and highly regulated tissue in the human body. Colonic stem cells are a key component of this tissue, and they make up the stem cell niche, which is found at the base of the colonic crypt. Regeneration of the colonic epithelium, which occurs on a weekly basis, is a complex process, and proteins responsible for directing regeneration are still being discovered. Two critical regulatory proteins, Lrig1 and Lrig3, have been shown to modulate the EGFR pathway, a key signaling pathway for growth, differentiation, and regeneration. Data from the …

Development And Validation Of Gene Delivery Methods For ​Crassostrea Virginica, Adrienne N. Tracy

Honors Theses

The Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is an important part of the East Coastal USA economy because aquaculture creates jobs. Sadly, the oysters are under constant threat due to increasing pollution, red tides, and diseases. Bivalves, and oysters in particular, are also becoming potential model organisms in medical research. With the sequencing of the oyster genome, scientists are focusing on deciphering the function of the predicted genes. However, the limited number of molecular and cellular tools available makes functional annotation of the genome challenging. A consistent, replicable gene delivery system needs to be developed to assess gene function and understand the …

The Origin And Evolution Of Flower Characters In Angiosperms With A Case Study On The Genetic Basis Of Zygomorphic Corolla Development In Bee And Hummingbird Pollinated Species Of Schizanthus (Solanaceae), Ghadeer Bukhari

Theses and Dissertations

This Ph.D. dissertation investigates two main projects separated into two chapters, one for each. The first chapter explores the evolution of flowering plants (angiosperms), a macro-scale study. The second project is on a micro-scale that focus on exploring the genes that regulate the similarities and the differences of flower morphology reflecting their different pollination syndromes in two species of Schizanthus (Solanaceae), i.e., S. pinnatus, a bee-pollinated flower, and S. grahamii, a hummingbird- pollinated flower.

In the first chapter, I used floral diagrams to study the origin and the evolution of floral traits in angiosperms, a new set of morphological data …

Tfap2e/Ap-2e Is A Transcriptional Regulator Controlling Neuronal Identity And Circuitry Formation In The Mouse Accessory Olfactory System, Jennifer M. Lin

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Developmental progression is driven by specific spatiotemporal gene expression, which give rise to consistently patterned organisms despite environmental and genetic variation. The specific activation of robust gene regulatory networks that define tissue structure and individual cellular identity are necessary for tissue and cell specific programs to be activated. Cellular specification is guided by the interplay of intrinsic and extrinsic signals at specific developmental timepoints. The molecular mechanisms underlying the acquisition and maintenance of individual cellular identity remains a fundamental question across biological systems. Understanding the regulatory networks controlling the acquisition of neuronal identity, diversity, and connectivity in the formation of …

Launching The Next Generation : Transcriptional Regulation During Oogenesis, Alicia K. Mccarthy

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Germ cells give rise to gametes and link generations by passing genetic information from parent to offspring. Gametes arise from, in many sexually reproducing organisms, germline stem cells (GSCs) which are set aside early during development. GSCs have an amazing capacity to undergo self-renewal to give rise to a pool of undifferentiated cells, while also differentiating to generate specialized germ cells such as haploid gametes. Upon female GSC differentiation, mitotically dividing germ cells can initiate meiosis, and mature within a follicle. During maturation, the specified oocyte is provided with a trust fund of RNAs and proteins for the next generation …

Role Of Smad4 Dependent Signaling In Controlling The Functioning And Connectivity Of Basal Vomeronasal Sensory Neurons, Ankana S. Naik

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

ABSTRACT

Limb Development In Salamanders: An Evolutionary Perspective To The Tetrapod Limb, Sruthi Purushothaman

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

Vertebrate limb is an ideal model to study growth, patterning and morphogenesis and the interplay between these processes. The developing limb bud is a three-dimensional structure and its outgrowth depends on the interaction between 2 important signaling centers: the Apical Ectodermal Ridge (AER) at the junction of the dorsal and ventral halves of the limb bud and the Zone of Polarizing activity (ZPA) in the posterior mesenchyme. These centers produce their respective key molecules and the close interplay between them specifies structures along the anterior-posterior (thumb to pinky), proximal-distal (shoulder to fingertips) and dorsal-ventral (knuckle to palm) axes.

Developmental biologists …

Characterization Of Deiodinase Expression In The Hypothyroid Developing Cochlea, Maria A. Uscategui Calderon

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Thyroid hormone (TH) is essential for cochlear development and normal auditory function. Considering the importance of TH in mediating cochlear development, understanding the degree to which developing tissues can adapt to perturbations in thyroid hormone signaling is extremely important. The deiodinases (D2 and D3) are enzymes that tightly control TH availability at the tissue level and have been proposed to function as adaptive mechanisms that maintain tissue TH homeostasis. D2 converts thyroxine (T4) to a biologically active ligand triiodothyronine (T3); locally amplifying a T3 signal. Conversely, Dio3 inactivates T3 and T4 by converting these iodothyronines to the inactive metabolites diiodothyronine …

Therapeutic Efficacy Of Umbilical Cordderived Stem Cells For Diabetes Mellitus: A Meta-Analysis Study, Dina H. Kassem, Mohamed M. Kamal

Pharmacy

Background: Stem cell therapy provides great hope for patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). DM is a seriously alarming metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia and β cell dysfunction. Efficient novel therapeutic modalities to treat DM are indeed warranted. Stem cells (SC) derived from the umbilical cord specifically provide several advantages and unique characteristics being a readily available non-invasive source, with an additional credit for their banking potential. This meta-analysis study aims to provide a focused assessment for therapeutic efficacy of umbilical cord (UC)-derived SC-transplantation, namely Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs) and umbilical cord blood (UCB) for DM. Methods: The clinical …

The Evolution And Development Of Chiropteran Flight, Emmaline Willis

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Characterizing The Requirements For The Matricellular Protein, Dccn, In Nervous System Function, Elizabeth L. Catudio Garrett

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The brain is organized as a complex network of specialized neurons that communicate via a combination of electrical and chemical signals. Our brains function to generate movement, control organ function, or direct complex behaviors; all of which requires the ability to regulate the flow of communication between circuits and networks. Work in this thesis addresses two areas of neuron communication: first, how does the release of more than one neurotransmitter from a single neuron impact behavior, and second, are matricellular proteins (MCPs) key contributors to synaptic transmission and neuron function? The conserved CCN family of MCPs have a …

Non-Invasive Method For Leptin Supplementation In Zebrafish (Danio Rerio), Regan Mcnamara

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

I tested the hypothesis that recombinant leptin protein can be introduced to zebrafish in vivo through non-invasive soaking in a solution containing the protein. One way to study various molecules’ effects in vivo is through intraperitoneal or intracerebroventricular injections during the embryonic or larval stage, which is invasive, difficult to administer, and can have a high mortality rate. 48 hours post fertilization (hpf) zebrafish were soaked in a His-tagged recombinant leptin protein solution at 10 nM and 100 nM concentrations (produced by Genscript). After soaking, zebrafish larvae were washed extensively to remove all recombinant protein on their exterior before homogenization. …

The Role Of Ca2+/Calmodulin Dependent Protein Kinase Ii, Camk-Ii, In Kidney Morphogenesis, Sarah R. Ingram

Theses and Dissertations

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is one of the most common heritable diseases in the world, characterized by the development of large fluid filled cyst. Treatments for this disease are limited due to a lack of understanding of disease pathogenesis. Ca²⁺/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaMK-II) is necessary for kidney morphogenesis in zebrafish as well as being a downstream effector of pkd2, one of the genes most commonly mutated in ADPKD patients. The roles of CaMK-II during zebrafish kidney development include regulation of kidney cell migration as well as cloacal cilia stability. The influence of CaMK-II …

Analysis Of Adult Neural Retina Extracellular Vesicle Release, Rna Transport And Proteomic Cargo, Jason Mighty, Jing Zhou, Alberto Benito-Martin, Sami Sauma, Samer Hanna, Onyekwere Onwumere, Cui Shi, Martin Muntzel, Moira Sauane, Michael Young, Henrik Molina, Dianne Cox, Stephen Redenti

Publications and Research

PURPOSE. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) contain RNA and protein cargo reflective of the genotype and phenotype of the releasing cell of origin. Adult neural retina EV release, RNA transfer, and proteomic cargo are the focus of this study.

METHODS. Adult wild-type mouse retinae were cultured and released EV diameters and concentrations quantified using Nanosight. Immunogold transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to image EV ultrastructure and marker protein localization. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to analyze retinal cell transcripts present in EVs. Super-resolution microscopy was used to image fluorescent (green) RNA and (red) lipid membrane labeled EVs, released …

Siah-Mediated Ups Regulation Of The Development Of The Visual System In Zebrafish (Danio Rerio), Warlen Pereira Piedade

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

The eye is a complex organ responsible for vision that which formation depends on several intricate developmental steps. Vision for humans is responsible for the majority of its sensory interactions with the environment. Eye development can be divided into two critical stages: morphogenesis, which establishes the eye structure culminating with the fusion of the optic fissure, a transient cleft important for eye vascularization, and subsequently specification and differentiation of the retina to form every type of retinal neuronal cell, including photoreceptors, rods and cones. Developmental failure in either of these critical stages can lead to inherited congenital or age-related blinding …

The Roles Of Polar Cell Extensions In Drosophila Micropyle Formation, Bradford Hull

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

The Drosophila micropyle is a conserved formation utilized to allow sperm passage past the robust eggshell structure for fertilization. Micropyle formation follows a unique acellular tubulogenesis method where it is secreted and shaped by specialized follicle cells including the border cells and polar cells. In late oogenesis, the polar cells form extensions that are necessary to create the micropyle pore through which sperm enters. Previous work established that polar cell extension presence is required for micropyle pore formation. We investigated temporal requirements of extensions throughout chorion deposition and found extensions are required during the beginning and middle of choriogenesis, but …