Comparative functional analysis of the atypical Notch ligands DLK1 and DLK2 in vertebrate development

DLK1 and DLK2 are vertebrate specific non-canonical Notch ligands. Dlk1 is imprinted throughout murine development [76] but selectively loses its imprint in the postnatal neurogenic niche by an unknown mechanism [78]. Possessing both secreted and membrane-tethered isoforms[212, 211], DLK1 plays critical roles in a wide range of developmental processes and is implicated in several diseases, including obesity and cancer[35, 241]. Apart from a few exceptions[78], in the majority of processes, the precise roles and relative contributions of membrane-bound and secreted DLK1 are unknown . DLK2 is a related gene with homology to DLK1 [108, 49]; however virtually nothing is known about it. Preliminary data from the Ferguson-Smith lab suggests that it is involved in neurogenesis in the Zebrafish. This project investigates the role that DLK2 plays in wild-type mice and compares the gene to DLK1.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Master of Science (MSc)

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Cambridge

Year dc:date.issued

2019

Author dc:creator

• Ashcroft, Alexandra

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Ferguson-Smith, Anne

• DLK1
• DLK2
• mouse model
• developmental biology
• zebrafish
• mice
• evo-devo

Licence

• https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/31f65935-0306-4755-893c-ed2277d272f8/download
• https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/

Language dc:language

en

DOI dc:identifier.doi

https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.41135

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/294026