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Description

Dendrites are outgrowths from the cell body, or soma, of neurons. The primary function of dendrites is to receive information from other neurons or surrounding tissues. We use the ddaC Class IV neurons of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster PNS, or peripheral nervous system, to study dendrite regeneration and why dendritic arbors regenerate imperfectly. The interaction between the dendrites and these surrounding tissues are mediated by different proteins and receptors, called cell adhesion molecules (CAM). The study objective is to perform a screen to determine obvious visual differences in dendrite regeneration after downregulating the expression of different CAMs through RNA Interference (RNAi). To induce injury, we perform a pinch injury with forceps. This holistic tissue injury method damages the ddaC neuron along with the surrounding tissue which includes the epidermis, supportive glial cells, and the extracellular matrix (ECM). The findings of this project highlight how the downregulation of CAMs by RNAi can demonstrate the role that CAMs and the surrounding tissues have on the regeneration of dendrites. The Drosophila melanogaster is ideal for studying dendrite regeneration as it shares many genes and biological pathways with humans, the use of the model organism allows for the mirroring of holistic tissue injury, such that is observed in traumatic brain injury in humans.

Publication Date

4-1-2025

Keywords

dendrite regeneration, Drosophila melanogaster, peripheral nervous system, ddaC neurons, cell adhesion molecules, CAMs, RNA interference, RNAi, tissue injury, dendritic arbors, neuron-glia interaction, extracellular matrix, traumatic brain injury, model organisms, neuroregeneration, epidermal interaction, glial cells, neurobiology, genetic screening, neuronal repair

Screening cell adhesion molecules for a role in regeneration after pinch injury in Drosophila neurons

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