Date of Award
2012
Publication Type
Master Thesis
Degree Name
M.Sc.
Department
Biological Sciences
Keywords
Cell Fate, Neural Development, Tuberin, Tuberous Sclerosis
Supervisor
Lisa A Porter
Supervisor
Elizabeth Fidalgo da Silva
Rights
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Abstract
Inhibition or misregulation of the tumour suppressor protein Tuberin is known to cause the benign tumour disorder Tuberous Sclerosis, involving developmental defects in many organ systems including the central nervous system. Data supports that appropriate control of Tuberin levels may play an essential role in the regulation of neural fate decisions. Hence, this work investigates the regulation of Tuberin through neural development both in vitro, using SH-SY5Y and RN33B neuronal precursor cells, and in vivo using murine neural tissues. We demonstrate that Tuberin expression and activity are significantly down-regulated during neuronal differentiation in vitro, and during aging in vivo, in a cell and tissue specific manner. We have developed tools needed to address the essentiality of Tuberin in neural differentiation in vitro and to begin to dissect the molecular pathways affected. Understanding how Tuberin is regulated through neural development is necessary in understanding the developmental defects and pathologies associated with Tuberous Sclerosis.
Recommended Citation
Davis, Gordon Omar, "Regulation of Tuberin in Cell Fate Acquisition within Developing Neural Tissues" (2012). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 5424.
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/5424