Using Drosophila to uncover dendrite self-destruction programs. (360G-Wellcome-091610_Z_10_Z)
We still now little about the molecular mechanisms that control the orderly developmental degeneration of axons and dendrites during pruning. Current thinking suggests that neurite degeneration, like apoptosis, is an active and tightly controlled self-destruction event. In this proposal I describe a strategy that uses Drosophila to identify molecules that orchestrate the developmental degeneration of dendrites. This approach combines the strength of Drosophila forward genetics with the detailed in vivo imaging of the class IV dendritic arborizing sensory neuron ddaC. These neurons require the nuclear receptor EcR to remodel during metamorphosis. We have exploited this biology to design a genome-wide interaction screen that will reveal evolutionarily conserved downstream target genes. We will 1) identify candidate genes required for dendrite pruning using a deficiency-based genetic interaction screen. 2) Functionally characterize the candidate genes and perform genetic epistasis studies to determine how these co-operate with known regulators of the pruning pathway. This will allow us to gain a deeper understanding of this fundamental, but little understood, developmental process.
Where is this data from?
This data was originally published by The Wellcome Trust. If you see something about your organisation or the funding it has received on this page that doesn't look right you can submit a grantee amendment request. You can hover over codes from standard codelists to see the user-friendly name provided by 360Giving.
Grant Details
Amount Awarded | 334474 |
Applicant Surname | Williams |
Approval Committee | Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Funding Committee |
Award Date | 2010-05-05T00:00:00+00:00 |
Financial Year | 2009/10 |
Grant Programme: Title | Project Grant |
Internal ID | 091610/Z/10/Z |
Lead Applicant | Dr Darren Williams |
Partnership Value | 334474 |
Planned Dates: End Date | 2013-11-18T00:00:00+00:00 |
Planned Dates: Start Date | 2010-11-19T00:00:00+00:00 |
Recipient Org: Country | United Kingdom |
Region | Greater London |