Poster Session - Abstract # 14

An Analysis of bar-1 Alleles in Motoneuron Differentiation

Bryan Jimenez, Brian Ackley

Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA

The process of specification leads to cellular identity via a process of transcriptional activation of cell-type appropriate genes.  Neurons go through iterative rounds of specification necessary to take on both general and specific functions.  Neurons can be categorized based on different criteria that describe different aspects that all must be specified during development.  We are using C. elegans to study the process of motoneuron specification.  C. elegans are naturally transparent and there are several fluorescent reporters that can be used to monitor the acquisition of different neural fates.  Here we are using two different reporters, Pflp-13::gfp, which selectively expresses GFP in a subset of Dorsal D-type (DD) neurons, and Pplx-2::rfp, which specifically expresses RFP in one the Ventral D-type (VD) neurons.  In a genetic screen for molecules involved in the specification of these neurons we identified multiple alleles in the bar-1/beta-catenin.  Interestingly the penetrance of specification defects suggest that the cells are differentially affected by the individual alleles.  I will present data that suggests these cell types which have very similar function are acquiring fates in a unique manner.