Functional analysis of drosophilia neurotrophin and toll receptor families in the development and repair of the larval central nervous system

Download Statistics

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

Lim, Mei Ann (2015). Functional analysis of drosophilia neurotrophin and toll receptor families in the development and repair of the larval central nervous system. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

Preview

LimMeiAnn15PhD.pdf
PDF - Accepted Version
Download (10MB)

Abstract

Drosophila neurotrophins (DNTs) - Spätzle (Spz), DNT1 and DNT2 - and 3 members of the Toll protein family - Toll, Toll-6 and Toll-7, of which Toll is Spz’s receptor - have been shown to promote neuronal survival and motoneuron targeting in embryos. Yet, it remains to be understood (1) whether the DNTs influence cell number and central nervous system (CNS) development after embryonic stages to result in the behaving larva, and in turn (2) whether these events influence larval CNS repair after injury. Here, the functions of DNTs and Tolls in the formation and repair of the larval CNS were investigated, focusing mostly on Spz. \(GAL4\) reporters, \(Mi\){\(MIC\)} protein traps and antibodies to the DNTs and Tolls were used to describe larval CNS distributions. Interestingly, Spz was restricted to the mechanosensory domain in the ventral nerve cord (VNC). New alleles for \(spz\) were generated and a loss of function allele was shown to affect glial numbers in the larval abdominal VNC. The loss of function allele also weakly antagonised wound closure, but further work needs to be undertaken to conclude whether or not the role of Spz in larval CNS repair is prominent.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):