Up and down regulation of MafB gene in the developing chick hindbrain. (360G-Wellcome-207249_Z_17_Z)

The project's aim is to up and down regulate MafB gene, that is expressed in the Nucleus Laminaris (NL) and Nucleus Angularis (NA), in the developing chick hindbrain and ask questions about: 1) formation of nucleus Laminaris and nucleus Angularis in the dorsal hindbrain; 2) other effects on hindbrain development e.g interfering with fgf8 molecule expression, which in turn would affect the development of the cranial motor nerves VI, VII and nVIa. Such experimental techniques as in ovo electroporation, immunofluorescence and in situ hybridization will be used to look at the genes expressed in the auditory brainstem. The in ovo electroporation constructs used will overexpress MafB and also express a dominant negative version of MafB and immunofluoresce analysis will be carried out to test whether the electroporation was successful. The in situ hybridization analysis will be performed to establish the effect of MafB on the expression of such genes like FGF8, Pou6F2, N-cadherin, gamma catenin, cadherin-13 and cadherin-22 in the hindbrain. These techniques would also allow the analysis of the formation of the nucleus Laminaris in the developing hindbrain.