Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


Format Changes Thesis 06 24 2015.pdf (1015.91 KB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

A Visual Screen for Centrosome Mutants in Drosophila melanogaster

Hynek, Sarah E
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1430408862

Abstract Details

2015, Master of Science, University of Toledo, Biology (Cell-Molecular Biology).
Centrosomes are highly conserved organelles that are composed of two microtubule-based centrioles surrounded by an amorphous protein cloud of pericentriolar material (PCM), which is able to nucleate astral microtubules. They serve as microtubule organizing centers during cell division and are important for fertilization. During fertilization, upon fusion with the ovum, the sperm contributes modified centrioles and a haploid set of genetic material. These modified centrioles recruit maternal PCM proteins and then form the microtubule sperm aster. These microtubules extend to find the female pronucleus and facilitate its movement towards, and eventual fusion with, the male pronucleus. This process creates a complete genome, and allows the first zygotic cell division to take place. During spermatogenesis, the centrioles undergo a variety of changes such as elongation, duplication, and separation, all of which precede centrosome reduction. This is the process which creates modified centrioles in the mature sperm to be contributed to the oocyte. During this phenomenon, the centrosome loses its astral microtubule nucleating function, PCM, and many centriolar proteins. By using a forward genetic approach, we have created a random mutagenesis screen for centriolar mutants in the testes, with the overall goal of finding those with centrosome reduction defects. We have chosen ethyl methylsulfonate (EMS) as our mutagen. Using Ana1-GFP or Asl-GFP, which label the centrioles and PCM respectively, we dissect and visualize Drosophila testes using fluorescence microscopy. In total we have examined 1436 mutants, finding many defects including those in testes morphology, centriole length, spermatid nucleus morphology, and one mutant of particular interest with Asl-GFP labeling in the mature sperm, indicating a defect in centrosome reduction.
Tomer Avidor-Reiss (Committee Chair)
Deborah Chadee (Committee Member)
Scott Leisner (Committee Member)
John Plenefisch (Committee Member)
46 p.
Biology; Cellular Biology; Developmental Biology
Drosophila; spermatogenesis; centrosome

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Hynek, S. E. (2015). A Visual Screen for Centrosome Mutants in Drosophila melanogaster [Master's thesis, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1430408862

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Hynek, Sarah. A Visual Screen for Centrosome Mutants in Drosophila melanogaster . 2015. University of Toledo, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1430408862.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Hynek, Sarah. "A Visual Screen for Centrosome Mutants in Drosophila melanogaster ." Master's thesis, University of Toledo, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1430408862

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

toledo1430408862
456
© 2015, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Toledo and OhioLINK.