Quantifying the development of neural progenitor polarisation (360G-Wellcome-207330_Z_17_Z)

Apicobasal polarity plays a fundamental role in the defining functional features of neural progenitors during the early stages of embryonic development. The apical pole in neural progenitors is specialized for multiple rounds of progenitor divisions, resulting in brain growth, where as the basal pole forms the environment where neuronal differentiation will occur. However, it is not well understood how the apicobasal polarity of neural progenitors is established. During the project, we will test a hypothesis which suggests that apicobasal polarity is progressively generated and can be monitored by quantifying a Cdh2 protein gradient along the apicobasal axis in neural progenitors. A key goal will be to determine the distribution of the Cdh2 protein over time during neural progenitor polarization. To do this we will make three-dimensional time-lapse movies of developing neural primordium in zebrafish embryos that express a transgene Cdh2-GFP. The transgene containing GFP will make it possible to visualize the distribution of the Cdh2-protein during progenitor polarization. Quantification will be done using FIJI image analysis software.