Mef2C regulates the morphology of postnatal cerebellar Purkinje cells

• Main Author: Peh, Wei Jie
• Other Authors: Albert I. Chen
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/72496
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Mef2C is an enhancer-binding factor demonstrated to perform multiple roles in not just muscle cells, but in neurons in vertebrates. However, its function has yet to be well characterized, particularly in the Purkinje cells of the cerebellar cortex as the primary output neuron of the cerebellum. In this project, we perform genetic manipulation of cerebellar Purkinje cells via lentiviral knockdown of Mef2C in order to observe the consequences during postnatal stages of development. With molecular markers, we defined the selective expression of Mef2C within Purkinje cells and achieved high knockdown efficiency of Mef2C. Via GFAP staining, we ascertained the viability of cells after knockdown for further morphological analysis. Additionally, using Sholl Analysis, we show that Mef2C knockdown lead to increased dendritic intersections in both proximal and distal regions of Purkinje cells, with a much more significant difference after the end of the third postnatal week. Together, these findings indicate the correlation between the manipulation of Mef2C and the maintenance and development of Purkinje cells, possibly indicating its association with the development and regression of cerebellar-associated neurological disorders.