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The role of Robo and Slit genes in endocrine differentiation

Bakhshanddeh, Maryam (2014) MOBN01 20132
Degree Projects in Molecular Biology
Popular Abstract
The role of neuronal genes in endocrine differentiation

Pancreas development is a remarkable process where functional glucagon-producing alpha cells and insulin-producing beta cells are produced. Diabetes mellitus is a very common pancreas disorder where the beta cells in pancreas do not produce enough insulin or get destroyed by the immune system. As a result, the level of glucose in the blood becomes higher than normal and causes diabetes symptoms and complications.

Functional beta cell development is under control of different gene transcription factors such as MafB. MafB is known as regulator of immature beta and alpha cells.

In this project, we studied the importance of neuronal genes in beta cell development. Endocrine... (More)
The role of neuronal genes in endocrine differentiation

Pancreas development is a remarkable process where functional glucagon-producing alpha cells and insulin-producing beta cells are produced. Diabetes mellitus is a very common pancreas disorder where the beta cells in pancreas do not produce enough insulin or get destroyed by the immune system. As a result, the level of glucose in the blood becomes higher than normal and causes diabetes symptoms and complications.

Functional beta cell development is under control of different gene transcription factors such as MafB. MafB is known as regulator of immature beta and alpha cells.

In this project, we studied the importance of neuronal genes in beta cell development. Endocrine progenitor cells of MafB heterozygous and mutant embryos were collected at embryonic ages of 15.5 (E15.5) and 18.5 (E18.5). The expression pattern and localization of MafB candidate genes were analyzed by quantative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry assays.

Our results showed that the gene expression level of several neuronal genes was significantly reduced at E18.5 in the mutant pancreas and that expression of these genes was mainly found in glucagon positive cells with reduced expression in MafB mutant pancreas at E15.5 and E18.5 ages. These results, suggests that MafB may have a role in the regulation of neuronal gene expression in beta and alpha cells during development.

Advisors: Isabella Artner; Jenny Johansson
Master’s Degree Project in Molecular Biology, 45 credits
Department of Biology, Lund University (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Bakhshanddeh, Maryam
supervisor
organization
course
MOBN01 20132
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
language
English
id
4693317
date added to LUP
2014-10-01 16:13:05
date last changed
2014-10-01 16:13:05
@misc{4693317,
  author       = {{Bakhshanddeh, Maryam}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The role of Robo and Slit genes in endocrine differentiation}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}