Investigating the Role of Filopodia Dynamics in Bristle Cell Patterning in Fruit Flies

William Annan

Clarkson University

"Investigating the Role of Filopodia Dynamics in Bristle Cell Patterning in Fruit Flies"

Repeating patterns, such as hair follicles and bristles play important roles in the lives of animals. These structures help animals to optimally sense their environment. Notch signaling is known to control these patterns. Primarily, Notch signaling is a local communication between neighboring cells in contact (signal-sending and signal-receiving cells). The local communication between cells in contact is not able to explain all the complex biological patterns observed. Further studies reveal long-range communication between cells using actin-based filopodia called cytonemes. The precise understanding of how the dynamics of filopodia such as protrusion and retraction lead to notch-delta activation remains unclear. In this work, we develop a mathematical model to help unravel the mystery of this long-range communication between cells. Student: William Ebo Annan Advisors: Prof. Emmanuel O.A. Asante & Prof. Ginger Hunter.

Note: this minisymposia has been accepted, but the abstracts have not yet been finalized.

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