Identifying Genes Underlying Spinal Motoneuron Specification

Karan NathaniSPUR 2011

Judith Eisen LabMentors: Liesl Van Ryswyk and Dr. Steve Seredick

Overview

• Objective• Background• Summer Research• Conclusion• Future Directions

Overview

• Objective• Background• Summer Research• Conclusion• Future Directions

Motoneuron Specification

Goal: Understanding how motoneurons are specified

Types of Neurons

Implications of This Study

• Treatment of several Motoneuron Diseases

Spinal Muscular Atrophy patient

Why Zebrafish?

•Vertebrates•Transparent•Genetic•Tools

Overview

• Objective• Background• Summer Research• Conclusion• Future Directions

Road to Olfactomedin 1a

• Microarray screen

• Signaling Molecule

• Axon Pathfinding

Olfactomedin 1a Background

Nakaya and Tomarev 2007

Overview

• Objective• Background• Summer Research• Conclusion• Future Directions

Hypothesis

• Olfactomedin 1a plays a role in specifying the formation of motoneurons.

Questions•Olfactomedin’s Role in Motoneuron Specification?•Olfactomedin’s Function?

Methods

• RNA in situ hybridization• MO Injections• PCR

Assessing Morpholinos•Titration•Concentrations: 50, 125, and 500 µM

50µM 125µM 500µM

Overview

• Objective• Background• Summer Research• Conclusion• Future Directions

Results

Uninjected Transgenic Fish MO injected transgenic fish

ResultsConclusion: Olfactomedin 1a may have a role in axon pathfinding!

Uninjected transgenic fish MO injected transgenic fish

Overview

• Objective• Background• Summer Research• Conclusion• Future Directions

Future Directions•Determine RNA Expression Pattern

•Further Studies of Protein Functions

Acknowledgements

Eisen Lab• Judith Eisen• Liesl Van Ryswyk• Steve Seredick• Julia Ganz• Levi Simonson• Ellie Melancon• Dayna Lamb• Fish Facility

Spur Program•Peter O’Day•Lyndsey Goforth•Blakely Strand•Toby Fish•Interns

REU

Thank you!

Splice-blocking Morpholino