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Control of Drosophila Eye Specification, Patterning and Function by the Transcription Factors prospero and Pax2

Charlton-Perkins, Mark

Abstract Details

2014, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Medicine: Molecular and Developmental Biology.
A large body of studies revealed the extensive conservation of eye development and function between the fly and vertebrates. In the case of the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), compound eye development begins in late larval life in an epithelial sheet known as the eye imaginal disc in which the photoreceptors and corneal lens secreting cone cells are born. This is followed by a less studied stage of eye development, the pupal stage, in which the pigment cells are recruited and patterned to form the distinct hexagonal shape of each eye unit (ommatidia). Finally, midway through pupation, the cells in the eye terminally differentiate in preparation of performing the adult function. This final stage of development is by far the least studied and in the case of the cone cells, almost nothing is known about these cells other than their ability to secrete the corneal lens and underlying pseudocone. In this body of work, we analyzed the putatively conserved roles of the transcription factors prospero and dPax2 during cone cells throughout their development. From these studies, we found that these transcription factors have antagonistic effects on Notch and Ras/MAPK signaling during cone cell specification, creating an asymmetry between the cone cells. Using this information, we further show that the asymmetry created by pros and dPax2 in the cone cells is fundamental during pupation for the shape and positions of the surrounding retinal pigment epithelium that gives each ommatidium its classical hexagonal form. Finally, we show that adult cone cells are radial cells that use pros and dPax2 to control glial functions (physiological and structural support) for the underlying retina. Taken together, these studies provide a foundation for studying the basic principles of cell specification and pattering, as well as develop a new model system for studying glial biology.
Tiffany Cook, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Zubair M. Ahmed, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Elke Buschbeck, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Masato Nakafuku, M.D. Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Steven Potter, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
170 p.

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Citations

  • Charlton-Perkins, M. (2014). Control of Drosophila Eye Specification, Patterning and Function by the Transcription Factors prospero and Pax2 [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1406819630

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Charlton-Perkins, Mark. Control of Drosophila Eye Specification, Patterning and Function by the Transcription Factors prospero and Pax2. 2014. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1406819630.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Charlton-Perkins, Mark. "Control of Drosophila Eye Specification, Patterning and Function by the Transcription Factors prospero and Pax2." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1406819630

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)