MSc Exit Seminar – Syed Saad Husainie -Friday, January 12th, 2018

MSc Exit Seminar

Friday, January 12^th, 2018 at 10:10am Ramsay Wright Building, Room 432

Syed Saad Husainie (Godt Lab)

Analysis of the Function of Protein Kinase C δ in Regulating Collective Cell Migration during Drosophila Oogenesis through Live Imaging

Abstract:

Border cell cluster (BCC) migration during Drosophila oogenesis has provided an excellent model to study collective cell migration. We have previously demonstrated that the serine/threonine kinase Protein Kinase C δ (PKCδ) is a regulator of BCC motility and protrusion morphology. My project aimed at examining the effects of altered PKCδ expression on BCC motility through live imaging, focusing mainly on BCC migration behaviour and protrusion dynamics. Although known for its pro-apoptotic role, I found no evidence of cell death in BCCs with increased or decreased PKCδ expression. Live imaging revealed that BCCs require normal levels of PKCδ expression to migrate at a normal speed. Increasing PKCδ expression levels in BCCs delayed detachment from the epithelium and significantly slowed down migration. Decreased PKCδ expression caused BCCs to migrate slower and less linearly during the early phase of migration. In addition, PKCδ-deficient BCCs showed defects in cellular protrusion dynamics, including frequent bifurcations and multiple cycles of extension and partial retraction. In summary, my analysis contributed to a better understanding of the function of PKCδ in regulating migration and protrusion dynamics during collective cell migration.