Presenter : Ryan Boileau
Mentor : Ken Prehoda
Major : Biochemistry, Human Physiology, Human Biology
Poster 22
Asymmetric cell division of Drosophila neural stem cells, neuroblasts, require the proper localization of factors that influence the orientation of cell divisions and future fates of mitotic progeny. Errors in the generation of this polarity could cause cells to overproliferate and become cancerous. In neuroblasts, atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) has been previously shown to be a key mediator in the genera- tion of apico-basal polarity by localizing to the apical cortex and restricting fate determinants Numb and Miranda to the basal cortex during cell division. This allows the dividing neuroblast to maintain pluripotency while also generating a daughter cell that differenti- ates into neurons. Although the mechanism of how aPKC restricts basal determinants has become transparent, we seek to evaluate how aPKC itself is apically localized. Using a combination of genetic and biochemical approaches, we have found that a predicted SH3 binding motif within aPKC is necessary for apical polarization. We hypothesize that an SH3 domain containing protein binds to aPKC at this site and plays a role in stabilizing apical localization. Future research will be focused on finding interacting partners of this SH3 binding motif using a candidate gene-based approach.