Kirandeep Kaur, “Identifying Zebrafish with MYPT1 Gene Mutations”
Mentor: Jennifer Gutzman, Biological Sciences
Poster #106
The mypt1 gene plays an important role in early embryonic brain development by affecting cell shape changes that are required to form the midbrain-hindbrain boundary (MHB) in vertebrates. Improper development of brain shape may lead to neurological defects, disability, or early fatality. Therefore, development of brain shape is critical for brain function. Our research utilizes zebrafish as a model to understand the mechanisms that regulate the development of brain shape. The purpose of the research is to identify zebrafish that are carriers of the mutant mypt1 gene. This identification allows us to mate adult mutant carriers in order to examine the homozygous mutant brain phenotypes. Mypt1 is a regulator of myosin phosphate and is responsible for dephosphorylating myosin regulatory light chain (MRLC). This is critical for inactivation of non-muscle myosin II (NMII) to limit contraction and is required for brain morphogenesis and ventricle expansion. For this project we used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and electrophoresis for adult genotyping. DNA samples were collected from adult zebrafish and tested using PCR. PCR products were analyzed by gel electrophoresis for product size to identify the mutant carriers for mating. We further examined the embryonic brain phenotypes in the progeny of identified mutant carriers using brightfield microscopy. In conclusion, this study will allow us to identify and utilize adult mypt1 mutant carriers to study the role of mypt1 in early brain morphogenesis during vertebrate development. These studies will provide insight into the mechanisms that determine early brain shape required for brain function.