Investigating the Role of Valyl-tRNA Synthetase in Zebrafish Visual System Development
McGuire, Jordan Laurel
McGuire, Jordan Laurel
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Abstract
Protein synthesis is a necessary process for the creation and maintenance of all living beings. Aminoacyl tRNA synthetases (AARS) are a critical class of proteins that facilitate this process. By attaching amino acids- the building blocks of all proteins- to their corresponding tRNA molecules, AARS proteins allow the tRNAs to transport amino acids to the ribosome, and add it to the growing polypeptide length. The AARS enzyme specific for the transport of the amino acid valine, called valine aminoacyl tRNA synthetases (VARS), is known to be disrupted by a missense mutation of the VARS gene. In people affected by this disorder, the mutation causes microencephaly, microphthalmia, global developmental delays, and a severely shortened lifespan. While VARS is expressed in every cell in the human body, the VARS mutation phenotype is seen primarily in the nervous system. The microphthalmia that has been observed is poorly understood, so we propose to use a zebrafish model of the VARS mutation to explore whether the small eyes are due to increased cell death or decreased cell proliferation. We will also investigate whether the cell layers of the eye are affected evenly or not. Through this research, we found that VARS mutants displayed both increased cell proliferation and cell death at certain stages in development, and that cell layers within the retina were impacted evenly by this mutation.
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2023-01-01