Dissecting the cellular and molecular mechanisms underpinning two aspects of photoreceptor morphology
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- Neurons are morphologically diverse, with many anatomical specializations that are crucial for their functions. Photoreceptors represent a specialized class of neurons whose elaborated apical structures, the rhabdomeres, and specific axonal projections collect visual stimuli and transmit them to the appropriate synaptic partners, forming the basis for vision. Through genetic analyses in the Drosophila visual system, we have studied the molecular mechanisms that control these two aspects of photoreceptor morphology. A forward genetic screen identified the GTPase effector Genghis khan (Gek) as mediating the ability of a subset of photoreceptor neurons to target to their appropriate postsynaptic columns. Gek was not required for the layer targeting of a different subset of photoreceptors; however ectopic expression in these cells was sufficient to affect their targeting choices. Regulation of Gek's responses to targeting cues may underlie differences in target choices among photoreceptors. The specification of photoreceptor apical structures depends on genes of the apical -- basal polarity family. Mutants in the genes Crumbs (Crb) and Stardust (Sdt) are required for rhabdomere development in distinct but overlapping subsets of photoreceptors. In addition, both genes are required in all cell types for the formation of the adherens junctions contacts between cells, suggesting that Crb and Sdt have both overlapping and unique functions in photoreceptor morphogenesis. Thus, these experiments provide insight into how two aspects of photoreceptor morphology are determined, and suggest mechanisms by which cell type specific morphologies may be produced.
Description
| Type of resource | text |
|---|---|
| Form | electronic; electronic resource; remote |
| Extent | 1 online resource. |
| Publication date | 2011 |
| Issuance | monographic |
| Language | English |
Creators/Contributors
| Associated with | Hwa, Jennifer |
|---|---|
| Associated with | Stanford University, Neurosciences Program. |
| Primary advisor | Clandinin, Thomas R. (Thomas Robert), 1970- |
| Thesis advisor | Clandinin, Thomas R. (Thomas Robert), 1970- |
| Thesis advisor | Fuller, Margaret |
| Thesis advisor | Luo, Liqun, 1966- |
| Thesis advisor | Shen, Kang, 1972- |
| Advisor | Fuller, Margaret |
| Advisor | Luo, Liqun, 1966- |
| Advisor | Shen, Kang, 1972- |
Subjects
| Genre | Theses |
|---|
Bibliographic information
| Statement of responsibility | Jennifer Hwa. |
|---|---|
| Note | Submitted to the Program in Neuroscience. |
| Thesis | Ph.D. Stanford University 2011 |
| Location | electronic resource |
Access conditions
- Copyright
- © 2011 by Jennifer Hwa
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