Sensory information is communicated to the brain in an orderly manner by way of a topographic sensory map. A simple topographic map exists in the IL2 neurons of the nematode C. elegans. It is known that mutations in the C. elegans mig-10 gene disrupt the formation of this map through a disruption in axonal pathfinding. It has been hypothesized that mig-10 is involved in signal transduction during axonal pathfinding. This is due to some sequence homology with a family of Grb proteins that are involved in signal transduction. This project makes one more step towards discovering the actual role of the mig-10 gene. Mig-10 rescuing constructs were developed, using the PCR Splicing by Overlap Extension (SOEing) technique, with a green fluorescent protein fused to the mig-10 coding sequence. Future experiments will be done to inject these constructs into mutant worms, where the expression pattern of mig-10can be examined. These experiments should help shed some light on the true nature of the mig-10 gene.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Papenfuss, Kevin Alan.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 00D125M

Advisor

• Ryder, Elizabeth F.

Year

• 2000

Date created

• 2000-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright