Semaphorin3f in the maturation of the outer retina

Mori-Kreiner, Risa

Semaphorin3f in the maturation of the outer retina

dc.contributor.advisor	McFarlane, Sarah
dc.contributor.author	Mori-Kreiner, Risa
dc.contributor.committeemember	Childs, Sarah J.
dc.contributor.committeemember	Guo, Jiami
dc.contributor.committeemember	Ungrin, Mark D.
dc.date	2020-11
dc.date.accessioned	2020-09-29T15:59:23Z
dc.date.available	2020-09-29T15:59:23Z
dc.date.issued	2020-09-25
dc.description.abstract	Cells of multicellular organisms have the remarkable ability to coordinate and control dynamic cellular activities in response to changes in their environment. From development into tissue homeostasis, cells communicate with each other through a myriad of intercellular signalling mechanisms. The large family of Semaphorins is a group of well-known extracellular signalling molecules implicated in a wide range of diverse physiological functions. In particular, the expression of secreted Class III Semaphorins (Sema3s) in the retina, not only during development but also in adult tissue, raises interesting questions about their tissue-specific spatiotemporal roles. The vertebrate retina is a highly complex, light-sensitive tissue that lines the back of our eyes. Within the retina, there are two key players that enables our ability to see: the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and the photoreceptors. Located in the outermost layer of the retina, the RPE and photoreceptors develop and mature together throughout the lifetime of the organism, forming an interdependent relationship that is highly critical for visual function. This thesis explores, using CRISPR/Cas9-generated loss-of-function mutants (sema3faca304), cell autonomous and non-cell autonomous roles of an RPE-secreted protein, Semaphorin3f (Sema3f), in the zebrafish retina. First, I demonstrate that both cell types, the RPE and photoreceptors, express multiple members of well-known Sema3 receptors, Nrp and PlxnA families. Second, I define a cell autonomous role of Sema3fa in maturing RPE. The loss of Sema3fa does not affect the maturation of the RPE at the transcriptional and morphological level, but does result in the perturbation of appropriate physiological responses to light conditions. Last, I demonstrate the non-cell autonomous role of Sema3fa in the development and specification of maturing photoreceptors. My work elucidates one of the many endogenous roles of Sema3fa as a regulator of the maturing retina to add to the growing literature of Sema signalling in events other than development.	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Mori-Kreiner, R. (2020). Semaphorin3f in the maturation of the outer retina (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.	en_US
dc.identifier.doi	http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/38268
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/1880/112609
dc.language.iso	eng	en_US
dc.publisher.faculty	Cumming School of Medicine	en_US
dc.publisher.institution	University of Calgary	en
dc.rights	University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.	en_US
dc.subject	Semaphorin	en_US
dc.subject	RPE	en_US
dc.subject	photoreceptors	en_US
dc.subject	zebrafish	en_US
dc.subject	retina	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Education--Sciences	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Biology--Cell	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Biology--Molecular	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Neuroscience	en_US
dc.title	Semaphorin3f in the maturation of the outer retina	en_US
dc.type	master thesis	en_US
thesis.degree.discipline	Medicine – Neuroscience	en_US
thesis.degree.grantor	University of Calgary	en_US
thesis.degree.name	Master of Science (MSc)	en_US
ucalgary.item.requestcopy	true	en_US