32nd Annual Student Research Conference
Involvement of Microtubules in the Epidermal Morphogenesis of Caenorhabditis elegans
Harper E. Euwer* and Anna E. Gerst
Dr. Stephanie Maiden, Faculty Mentor
As past studies have shown, microtubule assembly has a vital function in formation of the epidermis of C. elegans. To investigate the particular roles of microtubules in C. elegans development, microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs), like UNC-33 and UNC-44, have been studied. UNC-33 possibly plays a role in microtubule assembly since CRMP-2, its homolog, assembles microtubules through the binding of tubulin heterodimers. UNC-33 and UNC-44 have already been shown to interact and impact microtubule assembly in neurons. Our hypothesis is that through knockdown of unc-33 and unc-44 transcripts, or other MAPs of interest, a deleterious phenotype may result due to microtubule disruption in the epidermis. RNA interference is performed in order to generate the knockdown, and the morphological effects are observed through microscopy. Future studies include more extensive research into the physical analysis of microtubule components after RNAi using more advanced microscopy equipment utilizing fluorescent techniques.
Keywords: Microtubules, Epidermis, C. elegans, MAPs, UNC-33, UNC-44, RNAi, Phenotype
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 8-11
Location: SUB GEO
Time: 3:00