Drosophila RET Mutants as a Model for Hirschsprung's Disease
Loading...
Authors
Perera, Hiran
Issue Date
2016
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Mutant RET protein can fail to activate neural migration pathways causing the newborn colon to lack neurons for peristalsis. Considered as Hirschsprung’s disease, no treatment exists to induce proper migration thus requiring resection of the non-innervated colon. Drosophila melanogaster’s RET is a close homolog to human RET. Fly RET mutants were characterized as possible models for Hirschsprung’s disease treatment testing. The mutants had five distinct characteristics relative to wild type: foraging behavior and decreased neuronal vesiculation, movement of gut food, larval growth, and survival time. The mutants were used to create a behavioral assay for treatment testing. Mutant Msn and GAP1 (RET phenotype enhancers) were tested as possible rescues but failed to better the RET mutant phenotype. The mutants’ problems in moving food, very similar to Hirschsprung’s disease patients that cannot move food past the colon, implies promise that the fly RET mutant can act as a model with five dimensions for treatment testing.
Description
The University of Nevada, Reno Libraries will promptly respond to removal requests related to content that violates intellectual property laws, data protections, or has been uploaded without creator consent. Takedown notices should be directed to our ScholarWolf team (scholarwolf@library.unr.edu) with information about the object, including its full URL and the nature of your complaint.
Citation
Publisher
License
In Copyright