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Deciphering the Regulatory Roles of the Transcription Factors Midline and Extramacrochaetae in Embryonic Central Nervous System Development

Undergraduate #102
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: Genetics

Marciay Pitchford - Harris-Stowe State University
Co-Author(s): Sandra Leal, Harris-Stowe State University, Saint Louis, Mo Curtiesha Jacobs,Harris-Stowe State University, Saint Louis, Mo ; Dyniesha Powell,Harris-Stowe State University, Saint Louis, Mo



We showed that the midline (mid) transcription factor gene functions genetically within the Notch/Delta signaling pathway of neuronal cell fate specification within the peripheral nervous system (PNS) of developing Drosophila eye tissues (Das et al., 2013). Functioning downstream of the Notch/Delta pathway, we now predict that Mid and the Groucho protein function as co-repressors of the Enhancer-of-split gene complex to inhibit either the activity of Extramacrochaetae (Emc), a basic-loop-helix transcription factor lacking a DNA binding domain. Since the Notch/Delta signaling pathway plays an evolutionarily conserved role in mediating neuronal cell fate specification within the central nervous system (CNS) via the activities of Mid and Emc as demonstrated in the PNS, we expect to uncover co-regulation of Mid and Emc expression within the embryonic CNS. In this study, we are examining the wild-type expression patterns of Mid and Emc during all developmental stages of the ventral nerve cord of the embryonic CNS. We will then use mid or emc loss-of-function and gain-of-function studies to examine whether reciprocal co-regulation among mid and emc occurs as neurons acquire unique cell fates. This research will solidify the mechanism by which mid and emc regulate cell fate specification in the embryonic nerve cord of Drosophila.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): HBCU-UP

Faculty Advisor: Sandra Leal, Leals@hssu.edu

Role: I am primarily responsible for this study.

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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.

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