Ena/VASP proteins regulate vertebrate nervous system development : a thesis presented

Nervous system development is a complex morphogenetic process. Cell migration, axon guidance and many other regulated cell shape changes build a functional nervous system. These processes depend upon regulation of the actin cytoskeleton. Ena/VASP proteins are able to remodel the actin cytoskeleton in response to extracellular signals and have been shown to regulate the motility and morphology of a variety of cells. I have investigated the in vivo requirement for the vertebrate family members, Mena and VASP in nervous system development. I show that Mena and VASP are required for viability and the formation of the neural tube, spinal nerves and several brain commissures. Furthermore, I have investigated Ena/VASP function in neuronal cell migration using an in vitro assay and demonstrate that Ena/VASP proteins regulate the migration of cerebellar granule cells.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Biology.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2004

Author dc:creator

• Menzies, Annabelle Sheila, 1972-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Frank B. Gertler.

• Biology.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/28675

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/28675