| Kristy Kenyon, PhD
|
 |
In the last decade, identification of key
transcriptional regulators has provided new insights into
the genetic hierarchy controlling the development of the Drosophila
retina. Specifically, research has shown that highly conserved
transcription factors eyeless/pax6, dachshund, sine oculis,
and eyes absent function in a common pathway that controls
the establishment of the eye primordia. Mutations in each
of these genes result in the absence of eye development, and
conversely, ectopic (co)-activation of these genes causes
the transformation of other tissues into eye. Available evidence
indicates that some of these proteins associate through conserved
protein-protein interaction domains. By identifying additional
proteins that participate in these protein-protein interactions,
it will be possible to further elucidate the genetic pathway
for the development of the Drosophila retina. Using the yeast
two-hybrid approach, we have identified several interactors
of the sine oculis gene. I am characterizing the relationship
between sine oculis and a novel gene, PRG (Proline Rich Gene)
that contains a proline rich domain. The expression of this
gene in the differentiating cells of the eye primordium suggests
a role in the later stages of eye development. Loss-of-function
and gain-of-function techniques are currently been used to
determine the function of this novel gene and to investigate
its putative interaction with Sine oculis during the formation of the eye.
Publications
Kenyon, K. L., Zaghloul N., and S. A. Moody
(2001) Transcription factors of the anterior neural plate
alter cell movements of epidermal progenitors to specify a
retinal fate. Developmental Biology 240(1):77-91.
El-Hodiri, H., Bhatia-Dey, N., Kenyon, K.
L., Ault, K., Dirksen, M. and M. Jamrich. (2000) Fox (forkhead)
genes are involved in the dorso-ventral patterning of the
Xenopus mesoderm. International Journal of Developmental
Biology 45(1 Spec No):265-71.
Kenyon, K.L, Moody, S.A., and M. Jamrich
(1999) A novel fork head gene mediates early events
in Xenopus lens formation. Development 126,
5107-5116.
Krum, J.M., Kenyon, K.L., and J. M. Rosenstein,
J. M. (1997) Expression of blood-brain barrier characteristics
following neuronal loss and astroglial damage after administration
of anti-thy-1 immunotoxin. Experimental Neurology.
146, 33-45.
|
