Event Title
The role of YAP in regulating apoptosis in the developing sea urchin
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Margaret Peeler
Start Date
23-4-2019 4:00 PM
End Date
23-4-2019 5:00 PM
Description
Hippo signaling pathway regulates tissue and organ development by controlling Yes-associated protein (YAP), a co-transcriptional regulator that activates anti-apoptosis and pro-cell proliferation genes in the nucleus. Hippo pathway components have been identified in sea urchin genome, but no functional characterization has been published. Our lab showed YAP specific inhibitor, verteporfin, reduced cell numbers per embryo at the early and late gastrula stage, suggesting YAP controls embryonic growth. Verteporfin inhibition of YAP resulted in a concentration-dependent increase in apoptosis, with highest apoptotic cell numbers per embryo at 48 hours with 10 ug/mL verteporfin. Apoptotic cells were detected at 48 hours in treated embryos in all three germ layers, suggesting apoptosis from YAP inhibition is not germ layer specific. We are now analyzing apoptosis using Western blot analysis to detect PARP cleavage. These experiments will help understand the role of YAP and Hippo pathway in controlling cell number during sea urchin development.
The role of YAP in regulating apoptosis in the developing sea urchin
Hippo signaling pathway regulates tissue and organ development by controlling Yes-associated protein (YAP), a co-transcriptional regulator that activates anti-apoptosis and pro-cell proliferation genes in the nucleus. Hippo pathway components have been identified in sea urchin genome, but no functional characterization has been published. Our lab showed YAP specific inhibitor, verteporfin, reduced cell numbers per embryo at the early and late gastrula stage, suggesting YAP controls embryonic growth. Verteporfin inhibition of YAP resulted in a concentration-dependent increase in apoptosis, with highest apoptotic cell numbers per embryo at 48 hours with 10 ug/mL verteporfin. Apoptotic cells were detected at 48 hours in treated embryos in all three germ layers, suggesting apoptosis from YAP inhibition is not germ layer specific. We are now analyzing apoptosis using Western blot analysis to detect PARP cleavage. These experiments will help understand the role of YAP and Hippo pathway in controlling cell number during sea urchin development.