Stem cell niches are highly organized and specialized microenvironments located within specific tissues of both vertebrate and invertebrate organisms [1]. In Drosophila melanogaster, three distinct stem cell niches have been identified within the ovary including the germline stem cell (GSC), follicle stem cell (FSC), and escort stem cell (ESC) niche. Recently, Fregoso-Lomas et al. [2] reported that Gurken/Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) signaling is modulated within posterior ovarian follicle cells by Midline (Mid). The mid gene encodes a T-box transcription factor protein that specifies cell fates in the developing heart [3][4], central nervous system [5][6], epidermis [7], and eye of Drosophila [8]. The Tbx20 gene represents the conserved vertebrate ortholog of mid. Experimental evidence suggests that Tbx20 regulates cell proliferation within the embryonic chamber of the mouse myocardium; Tbx20-/- null mice exhibit increased expression of Tbx2 with a concomitant decrease in N-myc-1 expression, a proto-oncogene. These disturbed signaling events induce hypoplasia [9].
The Leal lab undertook a genetic modifier screen and discovered that mid interacts with several genes implicated in the control of cellular proliferation including extramacrochaetae (emc)[8] and dFOXO[10]. In addition, the modENCODE consortium identified bric-a-brac-1 and bric-a-brac-2 (bab-1 and bab-2) as theoretical mid-interacting genes that encode proteins harboring a BTB/POZ-ZF domain in Drosophila. The BTB/POZ-ZF domain is associated with oncogenic activity in humans [11]. Towards meeting the aims of the Master’s Thesis research, we carried out: 1) loss-of-function (LOF) and gain-of-function (GOF) studies with mid and specific mid-interacting genes within developing egg chambers, 2) cellular proliferation assays, and 3) immunofluorescent studies. Taken together, these studies allowed us to decipher the functional collaboration of mid with either bab-2 or bab-1 as a regulator of cellular proliferation within stem cell niches and as a critical gene required for oogenesis.
","abstract_html":"<p>Stem cell niches are highly organized and specialized microenvironments located within specific tissues of both vertebrate and invertebrate organisms [1]. In <em>Drosophila melanogaster</em>, three distinct stem cell niches have been identified within the ovary including the germline stem cell (GSC), follicle stem cell (FSC), and escort stem cell (ESC) niche. Recently, Fregoso-Lomas et al. [2] reported that Gurken/Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) signaling is modulated within posterior ovarian follicle cells by Midline (Mid). The <em>mid</em> gene encodes a T-box transcription factor protein that specifies cell fates in the developing heart [3][4], central nervous system [5][6], epidermis [7], and eye of <em>Drosophila</em> [8]. The <em>Tbx20</em> gene represents the conserved vertebrate ortholog of <em>mid</em>. Experimental evidence suggests that Tbx20 regulates cell proliferation within the embryonic chamber of the mouse myocardium; <em>Tbx20</em><sup>-/-</sup> null mice exhibit increased expression of <em>Tbx2</em> with a concomitant decrease in <em>N-myc-1 </em>expression, a proto-oncogene. These disturbed signaling events induce hypoplasia [9].</p> <p>The Leal lab undertook a genetic modifier screen and discovered that <em>mid</em> interacts with several genes implicated in the control of cellular proliferation including <em>extramacrochaetae</em> (<em>emc</em>)[8] and <em>dFOXO[10]</em>. In addition, the modENCODE consortium identified <em>bric-a-brac-1 </em>and <em>bric-a-brac-2 </em>(<em>bab-1</em> and <em>bab-2</em>) as theoretical <em>mid</em>-interacting genes that encode proteins harboring a BTB/POZ-ZF domain in <em>Drosophila.</em> The BTB/POZ-ZF domain is associated with oncogenic activity in humans [11]. Towards meeting the aims of the Master’s Thesis research, we carried out: 1) loss-of-function (LOF) and gain-of-function (GOF) studies with <em>mid </em>and specific <em>mid-</em>interacting genes within developing egg chambers, 2) cellular proliferation assays, and 3) immunofluorescent studies. Taken together, these studies allowed us to decipher the functional collaboration of <em>mid</em> with either <em>bab</em>-<em>2</em> or <em>bab-1 </em>as a regulator of cellular proliferation within stem cell niches and as a critical gene required for oogenesis.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Visic, Petra"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Masters Thesis","degree_discipline":"Biological Sciences","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Sandra M. Leal","Glen Shearer, Jr","Alex S. Flynt"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015-05-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2015-05-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:44:27Z","subjects":["proliferation","bric-a-brac","oogenesis","germarium","midline","Cancer Biology","Cell Biology","Developmental Biology","Genetics"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/110","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Sandra M. Leal","Glen Shearer, Jr","Alex S. 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In Drosophila melanogaster, three distinct stem cell niches have been identified within the ovary including the germline stem cell (GSC), follicle stem cell (FSC), and escort stem cell (ESC) niche. Recently, Fregoso-Lomas et al. [2] reported that Gurken/Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) signaling is modulated within posterior ovarian follicle cells by Midline (Mid). The mid gene encodes a T-box transcription factor protein that specifies cell fates in the developing heart [3][4], central nervous system [5][6], epidermis [7], and eye of Drosophila [8]. The Tbx20 gene represents the conserved vertebrate ortholog of mid. Experimental evidence suggests that Tbx20 regulates cell proliferation within the embryonic chamber of the mouse myocardium; Tbx20-/- null mice exhibit increased expression of Tbx2 with a concomitant decrease in N-myc-1 expression, a proto-oncogene. These disturbed signaling events induce hypoplasia [9].
The Leal lab undertook a genetic modifier screen and discovered that mid interacts with several genes implicated in the control of cellular proliferation including extramacrochaetae (emc)[8] and dFOXO[10]. In addition, the modENCODE consortium identified bric-a-brac-1 and bric-a-brac-2 (bab-1 and bab-2) as theoretical mid-interacting genes that encode proteins harboring a BTB/POZ-ZF domain in Drosophila. The BTB/POZ-ZF domain is associated with oncogenic activity in humans [11]. Towards meeting the aims of the Master’s Thesis research, we carried out: 1) loss-of-function (LOF) and gain-of-function (GOF) studies with mid and specific mid-interacting genes within developing egg chambers, 2) cellular proliferation assays, and 3) immunofluorescent studies. Taken together, these studies allowed us to decipher the functional collaboration of mid with either bab-2 or bab-1 as a regulator of cellular proliferation within stem cell niches and as a critical gene required for oogenesis.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Deciphering the Functional Collaboration of Mid and bric-a-brac 2 as Potential Regulators of Cellular Proliferation Within Adult Drosophila Ovaries"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Sandra M. Leal","Glen Shearer, Jr","Alex S. Flynt"],"dc:creator":["Visic, Petra"],"dc:date.available":["2015-03-25T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Stem cell niches are highly organized and specialized microenvironments located within specific tissues of both vertebrate and invertebrate organisms [1]. In Drosophila melanogaster, three distinct stem cell niches have been identified within the ovary including the germline stem cell (GSC), follicle stem cell (FSC), and escort stem cell (ESC) niche. Recently, Fregoso-Lomas et al. [2] reported that Gurken/Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) signaling is modulated within posterior ovarian follicle cells by Midline (Mid). The mid gene encodes a T-box transcription factor protein that specifies cell fates in the developing heart [3][4], central nervous system [5][6], epidermis [7], and eye of Drosophila [8]. The Tbx20 gene represents the conserved vertebrate ortholog of mid. Experimental evidence suggests that Tbx20 regulates cell proliferation within the embryonic chamber of the mouse myocardium; Tbx20-/- null mice exhibit increased expression of Tbx2 with a concomitant decrease in N-myc-1 expression, a proto-oncogene. These disturbed signaling events induce hypoplasia [9].
The Leal lab undertook a genetic modifier screen and discovered that mid interacts with several genes implicated in the control of cellular proliferation including extramacrochaetae (emc)[8] and dFOXO[10]. In addition, the modENCODE consortium identified bric-a-brac-1 and bric-a-brac-2 (bab-1 and bab-2) as theoretical mid-interacting genes that encode proteins harboring a BTB/POZ-ZF domain in Drosophila. The BTB/POZ-ZF domain is associated with oncogenic activity in humans [11]. Towards meeting the aims of the Master’s Thesis research, we carried out: 1) loss-of-function (LOF) and gain-of-function (GOF) studies with mid and specific mid-interacting genes within developing egg chambers, 2) cellular proliferation assays, and 3) immunofluorescent studies. Taken together, these studies allowed us to decipher the functional collaboration of mid with either bab-2 or bab-1 as a regulator of cellular proliferation within stem cell niches and as a critical gene required for oogenesis.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/110"],"dc:subject":["proliferation","bric-a-brac","oogenesis","germarium","midline","Cancer Biology","Cell Biology","Developmental Biology","Genetics"],"dc:title":["Deciphering the Functional Collaboration of Mid and bric-a-brac 2 as Potential Regulators of Cellular Proliferation Within Adult Drosophila Ovaries"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Biological Sciences"],"thesis:degree_level":["Masters Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:44:27Z"}