The role of cnd-1/NeuroD1 in C. elegans nervous system development

<p>NeuroD1 is a vertebrate helix-loop-helix transcription factor that is involved in nervous system development and pancreatic islet development. NeuroD1 -/- mice is uncoordinated, has seizures and a reduce brain size (Miyata et al. 1999). In C. elegans, the ortholog gene is <em>cnd-1</em>. Hallam et al. 2000, showed that <em>cnd-1</em> has a role in cell fate determination of GABAergic, DD motor neurons, in addition to a role in axon morphology. <em>cnd-1(ju29)</em> worms, show GABAergic motor neuron defect, they have a “kinky” backward movement phenotype and their axons are branched. However, only three genes are known to be downstream targets of CND-1/HLH-2, <em>unc-3</em>, <em>unc-4</em> and <em>unc-40</em>. We used a RNA-Seq approach to identify additional genes under the control of CND-1/HLH-2. We found that <em>cnd-1</em> is up-regulated in <em>ju29</em>, which suggests a negative regulation of itself. Also, we identified two HOX gene transcription factors, <em>ceh-5</em> and <em>ceh-13</em>, that we predict are under the control of CND-1/HLH-2 and are involve in the axis patterning of the nervous system. Similarly, we predict that <em>cnd-1</em> has a role as a cell fate reinforcer of sensory and motor neurons; it does this by activating and/or repressing different genes such as <em>srw-85</em> and <em>rpm-1</em>, in a tissue specific manner. By using an integrative approached we identified new downstream targets of CND-1/HLH2 and assembled a more comprehensive gene regulatory network. Surprisingly, our results also suggest that <em>cnd-1</em> might be involve in the conservation of a food homeostasis pathway, that might be similar to that observed in vertebrates, suggesting that <em>cnd-1 </em>has additional roles to nervous system development.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Integrative Biology (MSIB)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2018

Author dc:creator

• Aquino Nunez, Wendy

Contributors dc:contributor

• Melanie Griffin
• Joel McNeal
• Susan Smith

• C. elegans
• cnd-1
• Hox genes
• neurodevelopment
• motor neurons
• Biology
• Integrative Biology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/integrbiol_etd/36

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu:integrbiol_etd-1035