Poster abstracts

Poster number 53 submitted by Yifei Zhang

Fred regulatory network in Drosophila neural development

Yifei Zhang (OSBP), Shweta Chandra (MCDB)

Abstract:
Drosophila gene friend of echinoid (fred) was initially identified as a homolog of echinoid (ed). Both genes encode transmembrane proteins with IgC2domains, and both are involved in fly neurogenesis at least partially by interacting synergistically with the Notch signaling pathway. However, the various functions of fred in neurogenesis are distinguished from that of ed, as fred is required to suppress neural fate of epidermal cells outside of proneural clusters.Therefore, it is interesting to determine the fred regulatory network in neural development, as well as conduct comparison studies of the pair of homologes playing different roles.

Previous fred-RNAi study in our lab proved genetic interactions between fred and genes involved in Notch signaling. As fred function is not limited within proneural clusters, we are expanding fred study to its interactions with other important pathways. Building on microarray analysis in the Vaessin lab we have identified critical regulatory elements of the fred regulatory network governing neurogenic potential in Drosophila wing discs, including the genes of the Dpp and Wg pathways. Results of this ongoing work will be presented.

References:
S Chandra, A Ahmed, H Vaessin (2003) The Drosophila IgC2 domain protein friend-of-echinoid, a paralogue of echinoid, limits the number of sensory organ precursors in the wing disc and interacts with the Notch signaling pathway. Developmental Biology 256, 302-316

Keywords: fred, Notch signaling, RNAi