Understanding EcR Transcriptional Control of Glial Cell Development
Disciplines
Developmental Biology | Developmental Neuroscience | Genetics | Molecular Genetics
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Ecdysone signaling plays a crucial role in fly development. During the early stages of Drosophila development, the steroid hormone ecdysone ensures tissues develop correctly and synchronously allowing the organism to transition from an embryo to a healthy adult. During development, ecdysone binds to its receptor, Ecdysone Receptor (EcR), a transcription factor that can activate or repress its transcriptional targets. Previous data suggest that EcR regulates the development of glial cells, which are structural brain cells, however, it is still unknown if this is through EcR transcriptional activation or repression. The goal of this project was to understand the role of EcR transcriptional control on glial development during the third instar larvae stage where the brain grows rapidly. To ask this question, we developed tools that allow us to disrupt ecdysone signaling by disrupting the binding partners of EcR. Specifically, we designed tools that force the expression of the ligand binding domain (LBD) of EcR which binds proteins and ecdysone (UAS-EcR-LBD). These interactions instruct EcR to repress or activate its targets. A point mutation A483T in the EcR-LBD, UAS-EcR-LBD-A483T, prevents UAS-EcR-LBD from bind to a critical repressor Smrter. We expressed our tools in glial cells using the repo-GAL4 driver, third instar larval brains were dissected, and brain tissue volume was analyzed. The analysis of brain volume and survival shows that EcR transcriptional repression is important for glial cell development. Together this work demonstrates that EcR transcriptional repression is important for glial cell development. cial Ecdysone Receptor transcriptional regulation is for glial cell development.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CSM - Molecular and Cellular Biology
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Joanna Wardwell-Ozgo
Understanding EcR Transcriptional Control of Glial Cell Development
Ecdysone signaling plays a crucial role in fly development. During the early stages of Drosophila development, the steroid hormone ecdysone ensures tissues develop correctly and synchronously allowing the organism to transition from an embryo to a healthy adult. During development, ecdysone binds to its receptor, Ecdysone Receptor (EcR), a transcription factor that can activate or repress its transcriptional targets. Previous data suggest that EcR regulates the development of glial cells, which are structural brain cells, however, it is still unknown if this is through EcR transcriptional activation or repression. The goal of this project was to understand the role of EcR transcriptional control on glial development during the third instar larvae stage where the brain grows rapidly. To ask this question, we developed tools that allow us to disrupt ecdysone signaling by disrupting the binding partners of EcR. Specifically, we designed tools that force the expression of the ligand binding domain (LBD) of EcR which binds proteins and ecdysone (UAS-EcR-LBD). These interactions instruct EcR to repress or activate its targets. A point mutation A483T in the EcR-LBD, UAS-EcR-LBD-A483T, prevents UAS-EcR-LBD from bind to a critical repressor Smrter. We expressed our tools in glial cells using the repo-GAL4 driver, third instar larval brains were dissected, and brain tissue volume was analyzed. The analysis of brain volume and survival shows that EcR transcriptional repression is important for glial cell development. Together this work demonstrates that EcR transcriptional repression is important for glial cell development. cial Ecdysone Receptor transcriptional regulation is for glial cell development.
