Interconnected ganglia

This project is now closed

Regulation of boundary cell formation in nervous system development

Project supervisor – David Wilkinson

Division of Developmental Neurobiology

The complex organisation of many tissues is established during embryo development through subdivision into regions, each with a specific identity that underlies the generation of a particular set of cell types. This requires formation of a sharp boundary of the adjacent territories, which in some tissues has a further essential role as a signaling centre that regulates the local pattern of cell differentiation.

We are studying the regulation and roles of boundary formation during hindbrain development. This region of the nervous system is subdivided into a series of segments, each flanked by specialised boundary cells. We have recently shown that in zebrafish, boundary cells have a key role in patterning within hindbrain segments, and we have identified some of the molecular components required for their formation. In particular, there are key roles of signaling between Eph receptor tyrosine kinases and ephrins, but it is not understood how these regulate boundary cell identity. The aim of the project is to shed light on the molecular mechanisms of boundary cell formation by analysing the function of targets of Eph-ephrin signaling.

The studies will be carried out in zebrafish, which provides a powerful vertebrate model due to the availability of mutants, ease of gene knockdown, and development of sophisticated tools to achieve temporal and spatial control of transgene expression. The project will use molecular biology, transgenic and embryological techniques to study the roles of genes in the zebrafish nervous system.

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