The circadian control of eclosion in the fruitfly drosophila melanogaster / Edith M. Myers.

Format:

Book

Manuscript

Microformat

Thesis/Dissertation

Author/Creator:

Myers, Edith M.

Contributor:

Sehgal, Amita, advisor.

University of Pennsylvania.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Penn dissertations--Neuroscience.

Neuroscience--Penn dissertations.

Neurosciences.

Academic Dissertations as Topic.

Medical Subjects:

Neurosciences.

Academic Dissertations as Topic.

Local Subjects:

Penn dissertations--Neuroscience.

Neuroscience--Penn dissertations.

Physical Description:

xii, 126 pages : illustrations ; 29 cm

Production:

2003.

Summary:

Eclosion is the stage in development when the adult insect emerges from the shell of its old cuticle. Eclosion timing is controlled by signals from both the developmental system as well as the circadian clock. As a result of these two levels of control, Drosophila eclose during a particular time of day, the eclosion gate, after they have reached developmental maturity. While there are many tissues that contain components of the circadian clock, the cellular basis for the eclosion gate is still unknown. In addition, we do not know how or whether the two systems, circadian and development, interact to coordinate eclosion timing. We sought to first determine whether the prothoracic gland (PG), an endocrine tissue that secretes hormones required for Drosophila development, is a clock tissue, and whether it is necessary for the eclosion gate. Through behavioral analysis of mutant lines, as well as immunohistochemistry, we establish that the PG contains a functioning circadian clock, and that this clock is necessary for the eclosion gate. However, the PG clock depends upon input from clock cells in the central brain for its function. Because the PG is essential for both the developmental and circadian control of eclosion, we felt it was likely that these two systems could interact prior to eclosion. By assaying Drosophila development, eclosion, gene expression profiles, and protein interactions, we show that the circadian and developmental systems do not seem to affect the function of each other. Instead each seems to operate independently of the other throughout the course of Drosophila development. It is likely that signals from each system are coordinated, perhaps in within the PG, to ultimately control eclosion timing.

Notes:

Supervisor: Amita Sehgal.

Thesis (Ph.D. in Neuroscience) -- University of Pennsylvania, 2003.

Includes bibliographical references.

Local Notes:

University Microfilms order no.: 3095924.

OCLC:

244973212