Investigating the Role of Fer Kinase in the Early Blood Development of Zebrafish
Faculty Sponsor
Aaron Putzke, Whitworth University
Research Project Abstract
Fer kinase, a protein involved in the regulation of cell-cell adhesion and proliferation, has been shown to be required during invertebrate development and implicated in leukemia, gastric cancer, and liver cancer. However, in vivo roles for Fer during vertebrate development have remained elusive. This study, bridges the gap between the invertebrate and vertebrate realms by showing that Fer kinase is required during zebrafish embryogenesis for normal hematopoiesis and vascular organization with distinct kinase dependent and independent functions. Our data suggest a model in which separate kinase dependent and independent functions of Fer facilitate Notch activity in a divergent manner for hematopoietic proliferation and vascular tissue organization. Our data suggests a role for Fer kinase during zebrafish embryogenesis for proper differentiation of the hemangioblast lineage which gives rise to hematopoietic and vascular cells. Additionally, Fer kinase activity appears to be required for hematopoietic proliferation but not vascular organization.
Session Number
PS1
Location
Graves Gym
Abstract Number
PS1-v
Investigating the Role of Fer Kinase in the Early Blood Development of Zebrafish
Graves Gym
Fer kinase, a protein involved in the regulation of cell-cell adhesion and proliferation, has been shown to be required during invertebrate development and implicated in leukemia, gastric cancer, and liver cancer. However, in vivo roles for Fer during vertebrate development have remained elusive. This study, bridges the gap between the invertebrate and vertebrate realms by showing that Fer kinase is required during zebrafish embryogenesis for normal hematopoiesis and vascular organization with distinct kinase dependent and independent functions. Our data suggest a model in which separate kinase dependent and independent functions of Fer facilitate Notch activity in a divergent manner for hematopoietic proliferation and vascular tissue organization. Our data suggests a role for Fer kinase during zebrafish embryogenesis for proper differentiation of the hemangioblast lineage which gives rise to hematopoietic and vascular cells. Additionally, Fer kinase activity appears to be required for hematopoietic proliferation but not vascular organization.
