The Role of Daam1 In Kidney Development

<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>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation (PhD)

Year dc:date.available

2020

Author dc:creator

• krneta-stankic, vanja

Contributors dc:contributor

• Rachel K. Miller, Ph.D.
• Richard Behringer, Ph.D.
• Andrew B. Gladden, Ph.D.

• Kidney
• Nephron
• actin
• E-cadherin
• Daam1
• Wnt
• Formin
• cell adhesion
• Cell Biology
• Developmental Biology
• Medicine and Health Sciences
• Other Cell and Developmental Biology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/utgsbs_dissertations/1061

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu:utgsbs_dissertations-2117