Prof. Ginger Hunter from Department of Biology, Clarkson University will present investigating the role of cytonemes in the organization of the fly peripheral nervous system
The self-organization of cells during development is essential for the formation of healthy tissues, and requires the coordination of cell activities at local scales. Work in the Hunter lab is focused on understanding how cytonemes, or signaling filopodia, which are dynamic actin-based cellular protrusions, allow cells to engage in contact mediated signaling at a distance. Recently we have investigated the role of the plus-end directed, unconventional MyTH4-FERM myosins in regulating cytonemes during sensory bristle patterning on the dorsal thorax of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. We found that Myosin XV acts to negatively regulate cytonemes, but also promote the ability of cytonemes to engage in long-range Notch signaling. We also have recently investigated the role of cytonemes in distributing diffusible signaling modifiers of Notch signaling. We expect that our findings will have a broad impact since cytonemes have been shown to participate cell-cell signaling during developmental patterning events across vertebrate and invertebrate systems.
Friday, Oct 13, 2023
3:30 PMBH Snell Hall 214, Potsdam Campus
Zoom Information: Link
Meeting ID: 950 1099 7564
Passcode: chemistry
