University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The wingless signaling pathway specifies fates in the Drosophila embryonic CNS

Chu, Quynh B.

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Description

Title
The wingless signaling pathway specifies fates in the Drosophila embryonic CNS
Author(s)
Chu, Quynh B.
Issue Date
1996
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Doe, Chris Q.
Department of Study
Biology
Discipline
Biology
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
  • Biology, Molecular
  • Biology, Neuroscience
  • Biology, Genetics
Language
eng
Abstract
The secreted proto-oncogene Wnt-1/Wingless (Wg) functions as an intercellular signaling molecule in many developmental processes. Studies in Drosophila have revealed that wg encodes positional necessary to regulate segmental identity during embryogenesis. This thesis examines the function of the wingless signaling pathway and a downstream target gene huckebein (hkb), during Drosophila embryonic CNS development. wg is necessary for the formation and specification of adjacent neuroectoderm and neural precursors called neuroblasts. wg is also essential for the specification of an identified neuroblast lineage, NB4-2. Other components of the wingless signaling pathway, porcupine, dishevelled, and armadillo also positively regulate NB formation and specification. On the other hand, zeste-white 3 acts oppositely in both processes. It was further demonstrated that the wingless signaling pathway activates the expression of the gene encoding the transcription factor Hkb in the NB4-2 lineage. hkb is essential in specifying the fate of the progeny born of NB4-2, GMC4-2a and the RP2 motoneuron. The loss of hkb results in altered GMC4-2a cell fate and faulty RP2 axon pathfinding. In addition to the RP2 motoneuron, hkb also regulates axon pathfinding of two other motoneurons deriving from NB4-2.
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/20440
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 1996 Chu, Quynh B.

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