Molecular and genetic characterization of rugose (rg), a gene involved in signal transduction and pattern formation in the Drosophila compound eye.
Item
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Title
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Molecular and genetic characterization of rugose (rg), a gene involved in signal transduction and pattern formation in the Drosophila compound eye.
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Identifier
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AAI9969709
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identifier
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9969709
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Creator
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Mbogho, Mkajuma Priscilla.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Tadmiri R. Venkatesh
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Date
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2000
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Biology, Molecular | Chemistry, Biochemistry
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Abstract
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Cellular pattern formation and cell fate determination are essential for the proper development of multicellular organisms. Previous studies have shown that the cytological location of the rg gene is on the 4E-4F region of the X chromosome (Salz, 1992; Shamloula, 1996, dissertation). rg mutations result in a rough eye phenotype (Salz, 1992; Refranz and Benzer, 1989; Lindsley and Zimm, 1992; Shamloula, 1996, dissertation) and some alleles exhibit various wing vein phenotypes (Refranz and Benzer, 1989; Shamloula, 1996, dissertation). My present studies have focused on the role of cell-cell interactions in cell fate determination and pattern formation. Genetic characterization of rg shows that rg interacts with other genes involved in the EGFR and Delta/Notch pathway suggesting that rg may function in a related pathway. Molecular studies show that rg encodes a PKA anchoring protein (AKAP) implicating the PKA signaling pathway in cell fate determination in the Drosophila compound eye. mRNA expression data shows that rg is expressed in the third larval instar eye antennal disc and various stages of the embryonic development. This is consistent with the rg mutant phenotype results that show that Rg is required for the differentiation of accessory cells in the late third larval instar and pupal stages in the Drosophila compound eye. Rg may act to localize the PKA activity in presumptive cone cells possibly augmenting signaling by other biochemical pathways like those mediated by EGFR and Delta/ Notch pathway. In rg mutants, signaling by other pathways may not be sufficient for cone cell differentiation due to a reduced signaling by PKA. My results highlight the role of biochemical pathways in cell-cell signaling during development and how different pathways can be utilized for differentiation within the context of an individual cell.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
