Identification and characterization of potential genes involved in neuronal remodeling

• Main Author: Chan, Li Ying
• Other Authors: School of Biological Sciences
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science::Biological sciences::Genetics
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/45125
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Neuronal remodeling involves both progressive and regressive events. Regressive events such as pruning, the selective removal of neuronal processes without causing cell death, have been of interest recently due to the similarities with neurodegenerative diseases. However, much is still unknown about the exact players and the mechanisms involved. In this study, RNAi knockdown using the binary Gal4/UAS system was used to identify potential genes involved in the pruning process in Drosophila melanogaster. Nipped-B was identified as a potential gene that affects neuronal remodeling and results in this study suggest that it may play a minor role in the EcR-B1, Sox14 and Mical pathway in ddaC neurons but may have a larger role in the neural proliferation and neuronal remodeling in the mushroom bodies.