Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is critical for development and maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Important negative regulators of caspase activity are a family of proteins called inhibitors of apoptosis (IAP). A well characterized Drosophila IAP, DIAP1, is critical for inhibition of apoptosis. DIAP1 is regulated by a group of proteins, called IAP regulatory proteins that bind to and inhibit its activity. Well-characterized Drosophila members of the IAP regulatory proteins include Reaper, Hid and Grim. The Cadigan lab has carried out a genetic screen and identified discs overgrown (dco), a Drosophila homologue of casein kinase-delta/epsilon, as an inhibitor of hid-dependent apoptosis when overexpressed. Consistent with its overexpression phenotype, loss of dco in the wing imaginal disc resulted in elevated levels of apoptosis and decreased levels of DIAP1 protein. We hypothesize that Dco either inhibits Hid and/or activates DIAP1 to inhibit apoptosis. I will utilize cell culture and in vitro biochemical analysis to determine whether Dco interacts directly with Hid or DIAP1. In addition, I will use genetic approaches to identify additional genes that are involved in dco-dependent inhibition of apoptosis.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
1F32GM074465-01
Application #
6937601
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F05 (20))
Program Officer
Dearolf, Charles R
Project Start
2005-06-01
Project End
2008-05-31
Budget Start
2005-06-01
Budget End
2006-05-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$42,068
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
073133571
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Bolin, Kelsey; Rachmaninoff, Nicholas; Moncada, Kea et al. (2016) miR-8 modulates cytoskeletal regulators to influence cell survival and epithelial organization in Drosophila wings. Dev Biol 412:83-98
Kennell, Jennifer A; Cadigan, Ken M; Shakhmantsir, Iryna et al. (2012) The microRNA miR-8 is a positive regulator of pigmentation and eclosion in Drosophila. Dev Dyn 241:161-8