Validating ngn-1 transcriptome targets in C. elegans

<p>A detailed understanding of how the central nervous system (CNS) is formed and connects during early development can provide information on how to understand and treat disease progression associated with CNS dysregulation. Neurodevelopmental disorders are often reported to be polygenetic in nature, leading to conclude that transcription factors may be a key role in the prognosis of such psychiatric complications. Transcription factors are a class of proteins that enhance or suppress gene transcription and can affect a multitude if genetic targets. Neurogenins (Ngns) are a class of deeply conserved basic-helix-loop-helix transcription factor required for fate specification of multiple neuron types and brain structures. Despite its importance in nervous system development and function, the immediate downstream targets of neurogenin are not well characterized. The nematode <em>Caenorhabditis elegans</em> contains a single <em>ngn-1</em>/neurogenin ortholog. <em>ngn-1(ok2200) </em>null mutants show multiple neurological phenotypes, including axon outgrowth defects and embryonic lethality. Previous work in our lab performed RNAseq transcriptomic studies to better understand the role of <em>ngn-1</em>/neurogenin in development. This revealed genetic targets whose expression levels were significantly altered in <em>ngn-1</em> mutants (Chrestensen et al. 2020). The current work set out to validate a subset of candidate <em>ngn-1</em> targets by examining GFP-marker genes of <em>gcy-5, gcy-7, glr-6</em>, and <em>lad-2</em> in wild type and <em>ngn-1(ok2200)</em> mutant backgrounds. <em>gcy-5, gcy-7</em>, and <em>lad-2</em> are expressed in sensory neurons, whereas <em>glr-6</em> is expressed in the RIA interneuron. Preliminary data reveals that <em>ngn-1</em> is required for correct sensory neuron morphology and may have a role in fate determination of the RIA interneuron. Together, these data add further evidence that <em>ngn-1</em> functions broadly as a proneural transcription factor during C. elegans neurogenesis.</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

2022

Author dc:creator

• Baldwin, Amber

Contributors dc:contributor

• Erica Holliday
• Melanie Griffin

• Neurodevelopment
• Neurogenins
• Biology
• Integrative Biology
• Medicine and Health Sciences

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/integrbiol_etd/83

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu:integrbiol_etd-1085