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MSc Exit Seminar – Michael Fana (Cheng Lab)
July 19, 2017 @ 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
MSc Exit Seminar
Wednesday, July 19, 2017 at 2:00 pm, DV3129- University of Toronto at Mississauga
Michael Fana (Cheng Lab)
“The Regulatory Function of Raf-1 Kinase Inhibitory Protein in Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis”
Abstract
Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is the generation of new neuronal cells within the dentate gyrus of mammals. The process avails the hippocampus in its innate function of memory and notwithstanding any aberration, shows consistency throughout early adulthood until depreciating in old age. It begins with neural stem cells which undergo activation and division, mature over several weeks, and finally (of those that survive), integrate into existing neural circuitry. Several possible cellular pathways exist to mediate this neurogenic process, including the MAPK pathway. RKIP, a novel and elusive protein, is known to inhibit this pathway and regulate others, such as NF-kB, GSK3β, and GRK2. Owing to this expansive function is the finding of its role in promoting a neuronal fate in neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Here, I looked to delineate the role of RKIP throughout the entirety of the neurogenic process in mice. With voluntary exercise employed for neurogenesis induction, I discovered RKIP as functioning to reduce NPC proliferation while maintaining proper cell cycle kinetics. Furthermore, RKIP did not affect the overall formation of mature neuronal cells despite promoting a neuronal fate early in development.