Plxna4 and its role in neuronal survival in the developing zebrafish hindbrain
Date
2019-09-17
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Abstract
Plexins are a family of transmembrane proteins that bind Semaphorin ligands, and are known to function in axon guidance. In embryonic zebrafish, I find that plxna4 is expressed widely in the nervous system early in development, and localizes to the hindbrain as neurogenesis and differentiation proceed. In the hindbrain of a plxna4-/- CRISPR mutant, expression of the Islet transcription factor by cranial motor neurons appears depleted at 48 hours post fertilization, with increased apoptosis at 24 hpf. These data support a survival role for Plexina4 in the embryonic zebrafish hindbrain. Literature indicates that the secreted heat shock protein Clusterin is a candidate ligand to mediate apoptosis through Plexina4, as Clusterin is known to promote cell survival, and bind Plxna4. I find that clu is expressed by the floorplate of the embryonic zebrafish hindbrain. Epistasis experiments reveal Clusterin and Plexina4 promote cell survival in the developing zebrafish hindbrain via independent pathways.
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Keywords
cell survival, development, neuroscience, Plexin, zebrafish, hindbrain
Citation
Nurcombe, Z. W. (2019). Plxna4 and its role in neuronal survival in the developing zebrafish hindbrain (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.