Wnt signaling is a conserved cell communication system that drives embryonic development. Wnt pathways regulate a variety of developmental processes, including cell migration, proliferation, and fate determination. Dysregulation of Wnt signaling can lead to developmental disorders and diseases. The primary Wnt trajectory: canonical signaling regulates transcription through β-catenin. β-catenin coordinates cell-cell adhesion: β-catenin interacts with cadherins to link cell junctions to the cytoskeleton. However, the dynamic localization of β-catenin is still poorly understood. This research will help gain a deeper understanding of junctional mechanisms that may regulate the Wnt pathways and the possible biological mechanisms that could lead to developmental abnormalities. In vivo, visualization of β-catenin in Xenopus laevis embryos using a novel chromobody will enable unprecedented evaluation of how the canonical pathway influences β-catenin localization in the developing pronephric kidney in real-time. Future studies will determine how inhibitory/overexpression factors influence β-catenin localization in the pronephros. These studies will facilitate a deeper understanding of the canonical pathway in organogenesis.
","abstract_html":"<p>Wnt signaling is a conserved cell communication system that drives embryonic development. Wnt pathways regulate a variety of developmental processes, including cell migration, proliferation, and fate determination. Dysregulation of Wnt signaling can lead to developmental disorders and diseases. The primary Wnt trajectory: canonical signaling regulates transcription through β-catenin. β-catenin coordinates cell-cell adhesion: β-catenin interacts with cadherins to link cell junctions to the cytoskeleton. However, the dynamic localization of β-catenin is still poorly understood. This research will help gain a deeper understanding of junctional mechanisms that may regulate the Wnt pathways and the possible biological mechanisms that could lead to developmental abnormalities. In vivo, visualization of β-catenin in Xenopus laevis embryos using a novel chromobody will enable unprecedented evaluation of how the canonical pathway influences β-catenin localization in the developing pronephric kidney in real-time. Future studies will determine how inhibitory/overexpression factors influence β-catenin localization in the pronephros. These studies will facilitate a deeper understanding of the canonical pathway in organogenesis.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Moss, Amaya","0009-0004-7025-0272
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"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/utgsbs_dissertations/1500"],"dc:subject":["Wnt","Xenopus","Pronephros","Kidney","Development","β-Catenin","Biology","Cell Biology","Developmental Biology","Genetics","Nephrology","Other Cell and Developmental Biology"],"dc:title":["The Localization of β-catenin During Xenopus Kidney Development: A Look into β-catenin's Role in Kidney Development"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis (MS)"],"thesis:degree_name":["Masters of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:50:47Z"}