Kidneys, like most organs in our bodies, consist of a network of epithelial tubules. Kidney tubules are called nephrons, and their morphology is important for kidney function. Nephrons develop from mesodermally derived aggregates of progenitor cells. The nephric progenitors organize into nephric tubules lined with hair-like sensory projections called cilia. Many diseases of the kidney are characterized by abnormal nephron morphology with current treatment aimed at symptom control. To understand the mechanisms underlying kidney diseases and achieve the development of novel therapies, a better understanding of how nephrons develop is needed. Although the actin cytoskeleton is critical for cell behaviors underlying nephron morphogenesis, we still know very little about the regulation of cytoskeletal dynamics. Here, we examine the role of the Wnt/Planar Cell Polarity formin, Dishevelled-associated activator of morphogenesis 1 (Daam1), in shaping nephric tubules. We show that Daam1 governs nephron morphology by regulating E-cadherin-based cell-cell adhesion of progenitor cells and junctional actin filaments' stability. We also report divergent roles for Daam1 in ciliogenesis. This dissertation enhances our understanding of cytoskeletal regulation, adhesion, and organizational behaviors involved in nephron assembly.
","abstract_html":"<p>Kidneys, like most organs in our bodies, consist of a network of epithelial tubules. Kidney tubules are called nephrons, and their morphology is important for kidney function. Nephrons develop from mesodermally derived aggregates of progenitor cells. The nephric progenitors organize into nephric tubules lined with hair-like sensory projections called cilia. Many diseases of the kidney are characterized by abnormal nephron morphology with current treatment aimed at symptom control. To understand the mechanisms underlying kidney diseases and achieve the development of novel therapies, a better understanding of how nephrons develop is needed. Although the actin cytoskeleton is critical for cell behaviors underlying nephron morphogenesis, we still know very little about the regulation of cytoskeletal dynamics. Here, we examine the role of the Wnt/Planar Cell Polarity formin, Dishevelled-associated activator of morphogenesis 1 (Daam1), in shaping nephric tubules. We show that Daam1 governs nephron morphology by regulating E-cadherin-based cell-cell adhesion of progenitor cells and junctional actin filaments' stability. We also report divergent roles for Daam1 in ciliogenesis. This dissertation enhances our understanding of cytoskeletal regulation, adhesion, and organizational behaviors involved in nephron assembly.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["krneta-stankic, vanja"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Dissertation (PhD)","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Rachel K. Miller, Ph.D.","Richard Behringer, Ph.D.","Andrew B. Gladden, Ph.D."],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2020,"date_issued":"2020-12-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2020-12-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:49:54Z","subjects":["Kidney","Nephron","actin","E-cadherin","Daam1","Wnt","Formin","cell adhesion","Cell Biology","Developmental Biology","Medicine and Health Sciences","Other Cell and Developmental Biology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/utgsbs_dissertations/1061","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Rachel K. Miller, Ph.D.","Richard Behringer, Ph.D.","Andrew B. Gladden, Ph.D."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["krneta-stankic, vanja"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2021-12-18T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation (PhD)"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Kidney","Nephron","actin","E-cadherin","Daam1","Wnt","Formin","cell adhesion","Cell Biology","Developmental Biology","Medicine and Health Sciences","Other Cell and Developmental Biology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/utgsbs_dissertations/1061"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Kidneys, like most organs in our bodies, consist of a network of epithelial tubules. Kidney tubules are called nephrons, and their morphology is important for kidney function. Nephrons develop from mesodermally derived aggregates of progenitor cells. The nephric progenitors organize into nephric tubules lined with hair-like sensory projections called cilia. Many diseases of the kidney are characterized by abnormal nephron morphology with current treatment aimed at symptom control. To understand the mechanisms underlying kidney diseases and achieve the development of novel therapies, a better understanding of how nephrons develop is needed. Although the actin cytoskeleton is critical for cell behaviors underlying nephron morphogenesis, we still know very little about the regulation of cytoskeletal dynamics. Here, we examine the role of the Wnt/Planar Cell Polarity formin, Dishevelled-associated activator of morphogenesis 1 (Daam1), in shaping nephric tubules. We show that Daam1 governs nephron morphology by regulating E-cadherin-based cell-cell adhesion of progenitor cells and junctional actin filaments' stability. We also report divergent roles for Daam1 in ciliogenesis. This dissertation enhances our understanding of cytoskeletal regulation, adhesion, and organizational behaviors involved in nephron assembly.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The Role of Daam1 In Kidney Development"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Rachel K. Miller, Ph.D.","Richard Behringer, Ph.D.","Andrew B. Gladden, Ph.D."],"dc:creator":["krneta-stankic, vanja"],"dc:date.available":["2021-12-18T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Kidneys, like most organs in our bodies, consist of a network of epithelial tubules. Kidney tubules are called nephrons, and their morphology is important for kidney function. Nephrons develop from mesodermally derived aggregates of progenitor cells. The nephric progenitors organize into nephric tubules lined with hair-like sensory projections called cilia. Many diseases of the kidney are characterized by abnormal nephron morphology with current treatment aimed at symptom control. To understand the mechanisms underlying kidney diseases and achieve the development of novel therapies, a better understanding of how nephrons develop is needed. Although the actin cytoskeleton is critical for cell behaviors underlying nephron morphogenesis, we still know very little about the regulation of cytoskeletal dynamics. Here, we examine the role of the Wnt/Planar Cell Polarity formin, Dishevelled-associated activator of morphogenesis 1 (Daam1), in shaping nephric tubules. We show that Daam1 governs nephron morphology by regulating E-cadherin-based cell-cell adhesion of progenitor cells and junctional actin filaments' stability. We also report divergent roles for Daam1 in ciliogenesis. This dissertation enhances our understanding of cytoskeletal regulation, adhesion, and organizational behaviors involved in nephron assembly.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/utgsbs_dissertations/1061"],"dc:subject":["Kidney","Nephron","actin","E-cadherin","Daam1","Wnt","Formin","cell adhesion","Cell Biology","Developmental Biology","Medicine and Health Sciences","Other Cell and Developmental Biology"],"dc:title":["The Role of Daam1 In Kidney Development"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation (PhD)"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:49:54Z"}