Dissecting the function of Wnt signalling in zebrafish neural crest development
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Exeter
Department Name: Biosciences
Abstract
In this project the student will use a broad spectrum of tools to visualize and manipulate Wnt signalling during neural crest development in the zebrafish. The student will use zebrafish larvae to characterize Wnt trafficking in the dorsal roof plate. Based on these results, functional analysis of Wnt ligands and receptors will be carried out. Complementary, the student will use CRISPR/Cas9 technology to generate knock-out lines and analyse the phenotype of cells lacking specific components of the Wnt signalling pathway. This technique will be used to analyse the consequences of loss of Wnt signalling effectors in embryogenesis. In combination with a variety of fluorescence labelling techniques, the student will use long-time in-vivo imaging to study Wnt ligand distribution in the neural crest in the zebrafish larvae.
Experimental Methods: The student will learn how to use zebrafish as a model, super-resolution imaging and molecular biology techniques to study gene function during embryogenesis.
Experimental Methods: The student will learn how to use zebrafish as a model, super-resolution imaging and molecular biology techniques to study gene function during embryogenesis.
Publications
Sutton G
(2022)
Neural Crest: Origin, Migration and Differentiation
in eLS, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd (Ed.)
Sutton G
(2021)
Review: The Role of Wnt/ß-Catenin Signalling in Neural Crest Development in Zebrafish.
in Frontiers in cell and developmental biology
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB/T008741/1 | 01/10/2020 | 30/09/2028 | |||
| 2401640 | Studentship | BB/T008741/1 | 01/10/2020 | 30/09/2024 | Gemma Sutton |
| Description | Dissecting the function of Wnt signalling in zebrafish neural crest development |
| Organisation | University of Bath |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I worked at the University of Bath for 6 months in the Kelsh lab at the start of the PhD project. In the lab I was trained by the research technicians and postdocs in using the Transgenic fish lines, and in various molecular biology protocols. I used the new Lightsheet microscope to acquire time series of neural crest development in zebrafish. The lightsheet had been recently bought by the department and, as one of the first users, Ideveloped protocols to mount and image zebrafish on the system. I transported the Transgenic fish lines and a number of plasmids from Bath to Exeter which I have continued to use throughout the project. Since returning to Exeter, I have regular meetings with Robert Kelsh to discuss data. I also present my progress in the Zebrafish meeting two-three times a year where I receive useful feedback from the zebrafish research community at Bath. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Robert Kelsh has provided his expertise and guidance throughout the project, usually in the form of 1:1 meetings which take place every 2-3 months. Robert collaborated on the first review article published during the project (Sutton, Kelsh and Scholpp, 2021). Subsequently, Robert suggested that I could co-author a second review article, which has now been published (Sutton and Kelsh, 2022). |
| Impact | Sutton, G. and Kelsh, R.N. (2022). Neural Crest: Origin, Migration and Differentiation. In eLS, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd (Ed.). https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470015902.a0029518 Sutton Gemma, Kelsh Robert N., Scholpp Steffen (2021) Review: The Role of Wnt/ß-Catenin Signalling in Neural Crest Development in Zebrafish. In Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2021.782445 |
| Start Year | 2021 |