Tommy Wyniemko
Pronouns: He/Him
Research Mentor(s): Dawen Cai
Co-Presenter:
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Cell and Developmental Biology; Biophysics; Neuroscience Graduate Program / Medicine
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Session 2 – 11am – 11:50am
Room: League Ballroom
Authors: Tommy Wyniemko, Ye Li, Dawen Cai
Presenter: 47
Abstract
As research in neuroscience sees development at increasingly accelerated rates, research applications are becoming more common among all related facets. One issue currently facing the neuroscience community is the lack of reliable and specific neuronal labeling tools. While tools like Brainbow and its variants do exist, the scope of these tools are limited, either by application or by the nature of the tools themselves. We seek to fix this issue with Bitbow, a new generation of multi-color transgenics, utilizing a combinatorial binary design to achieve a high number of unambiguous labeling in the nervous system. Bitbow is aimed to track the process of neural development in Drosophila melanogaster. For the purpose of systematically resolving the neural development processes in flies, the system is designed to assign a unique fluorescent protein combination code to each neural lineage. The mechanisms of each Bitbow module employs the use of inverted FRT sites which are positioned opposite to each other, flanking the fluorescent proteins along with 10xUAS and polyadenylation sequences, capable of generating a “ON or OFF” binary output, upon Flp recombination and under the instruction of a Gal4 driver. BitBow, using a randomized combination of fluorescent protein expressions, can be interpreted by the researcher in lineage codes (determined by the ratio of certain color fluorescent protein expressions). These codes can be used to track certain lineages with much greater distinction than past tools that only used simple color and no other system of interpretation. Though the research is still undergoing testing, we have expressed this new iteration of Bitbow for propagation in Drosophila neuroblasts with stem cell specific enhancers. After examining the efficacy of this genetic line through the Bitbow tool and eventual imaging and observation of the expression in neurons, it can be concluded that this tool is reliable and faithful in discriminating neuronal lineages with great distinction.
Interdisciplinary, Natural/Life Sciences
