Date of Completion
2023
Thesis Type
College of Arts and Science Honors
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Alicia Ebert
Keywords
Grb2, Zebrafish, Development, Retina, Cell signaling
Abstract
Grb2 or growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 is an adaptor protein involved in the Ras signaling pathway. Adaptor proteins are critical for the development of many tissues and function by tethering upstream signals to downstream molecules to initiate and/or propagate cellular responses (1). Grb2 consists of two functional domains; one binds to phosphorylated tyrosines (the upstream molecule) and the other binds to a proline rich motif, predominately on the guanine nucleotide exchange factor SOS (the downstream molecule) (2). These interactions activate the Ras/MAP Kinase pathway leading to many cellular processes such as division, adhesion, migration, angiogenesis, and vasculogenesis (2, 3, 4, 5). Most studies address Grb2’s role in the vasculature system or in cell culture, and mice deficient in Grb2 die very early in development, therefore little is known about Grb2’s role in the nervous system (3, 6, 7, 8). A study in mouse cell lines demonstrated Grb2 was necessary in facilitating cortical neuron growth, which displays the importance of Grb2 in development of neural tissues (4). In this study, we use zebrafish as a model to investigate Grb2’s role in the nervous system. In situ hybridization demonstrates ubiquitous expression of grb2a and grb2b in the zebrafish nervous system. Additionally, loss of Grb2 leads to abnormalities in the peripheral nervous system, and retinal patterning. These studies highlight the varied role for Grb2 in nervous tissue development in zebrafish.
Recommended Citation
Tessier, Nicole Ann, "The roles of Grb2 adaptor proteins in zebrafish development" (2023). UVM College of Arts and Sciences College Honors Theses. 115.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/castheses/115