Date of Award

Summer 7-10-2024

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MS Biology

Department

Biology

Advisor

Angela V. Klaus, PhD

Committee Member

Tinchun Chu, PhD

Committee Member

Daniel B. Nichols, PhD

Keywords

fusomes, apical complex, stem cell niche, D. yakuba, D. bifasciata, actin

Abstract

The purpose of the current study is to confirm the characterization of the stem cell niche and the fusome in Drosophila yakuba and Drosophila bifasciata. The stem cell niche has been well-characterized in Drosophila melanogaster, however other species of Drosophila have been neglected. A key feature of the stem cells niche in D. melanogaster is a fasciclin-positive somatic signaling center termed the “hub”. Work from our laboratory previously demonstrated the presence of a novel fasciclin-positive zone, termed the apical complex, in D. pseudoobscura. This complex is morphologically very different from the hub. Similarly, the fusome, a spectrin-positive network of tubular intercellular bridges that forms between dividing spermatogenic cells in the testis is well-studied in D. melanogaster but not in other species. Another protein of interest in developmental spermatogenesis is actin, which is seen in abundance at several points, including the investment cones, fusome anchoring, as well as the formation of the sperm tails. The goal of this research was to characterize the placement and presence of the above proteins in the lesser studied species of Drosophila yakuba and Drosophila bifasciata, as well as confirm previous findings. Fusomes were characterized in the apical end of D. yakuba and D. bifasciata. Fasciclin III and actin filaments appear to be present in D. yakuba testes. Preliminary data shows that fasciclin III is also expressed in D. bifasciata, however, further study will be needed. 3-D reconstructions were obtained for fusome and fasciclin structures. Actin was not confirmed in D. bifasciata.

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