| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 生命科學系暨基因體科學研究所 === 101 === Follicle cells in the Drosophila ovary are an excellent model for studying various cellular functions. They are epithelial cells with defined apical-basal polarity. During oogenesis, they undergo cell division, differentiation, morphogenesis, and eventually generate the eggshell. Some follicle cells differentiate into border cells, which undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell migration. In my research, I use follicle cells to study two topics: (1) The role of the Hippo pathway in border cells during border cell migration. (2) Regulation of cell morphogenesis and polarity by Tousled-like kinase (Tlk).
The role of the Hippo pathway in border cells during border cell migration
The Hippo pathway contains Hippo (Hpo), Warts (Wts) and Yorkie (Yki). Hpo phosphorylates and activates Wts. Wts inactivate Yki by protein phosphorylation. I find that hpo, wts, and yki may not be required for border cell migration in border cells. Over-expression of hpo, however, disrupts actin cytoskeleton and cell migration in a yki-independent manner.
Regulation of cell morphogenesis and polarity by Tlk
Tlk is a conserved Serine/Threonin kinase involved in DNA replication, chromatin assembly, and DNA repair. Here, I find that Tlk modulates cell morphogenesis through regulation of cytoskeleton dynamics in a kinase-dependent manner. Localization and amount of the cell polarity proteins are altered, which may be caused by the constriction of the apical region when cell loses proper regulation of cytoskeletal structures in tlk mutant cells.
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