Exploring the role of Reggie genes and microdomain signaling during zebrafish development

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Claudia Stürmer
• Subject Area: Animal Physiology and Biochemistry
• Term: from 2003 to 2007
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5391074

Reggie-1 and -2 are plasma membrane-associated proteins and characteristic markers of lipid-raft microdomains, which appear to provide assemble functional platforms for signaling across the plasma membrane in neurons and many other cell types. In rats and goldfish, reggies are upregulated during axon growth and regeneration. We have previously identified four reggie genes in the zebrafish, all of which are transcribed in early development, particularly during the morphogenesis of the embryonic eye, brain and somites. Components of the Hedgehog signaling pathway are major players in the patterning of these structures, and are also known to interact with lipid rafts. Here, we propose tho examine the function of zebrafish reggie genes by a combination of in-situ hybridizations, antibody stainings and morpholino gene targeting. In addition, we will examine the possible functional association between reggies and the Hedgehog signaling pathway during axon growth/regeneration, by means of protein co-localiszation and co-immunoprecipitation in cultured cells.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Professor Edward Málaga-Trillo, Ph.D.