1. Identifying Genes Underlying Spinal Motoneuron Specification Karan Nathani SPUR 2011 Judith Eisen Lab Mentors: Liesl Van Ryswyk and Dr. Steve Seredick

2. Overview Objective Background Summer Research Conclusion Future Directions

3. Overview Objective Background Summer Research Conclusion Future Directions

4. Motoneuron Specification Goal: Understanding how motoneurons are specified Types of Neurons

5. Implications of This Study Treatment of several Motoneuron Diseases Spinal Muscular Atrophy patient

6. Why Zebrafish? Vertebrates Transparent Genetic Tools

7. Overview Objective Background Summer Research Conclusion Future Directions

8. Road to Olfactomedin 1a Microarray screen Signaling Molecule Axon Pathfinding

9. Olfactomedin 1a Background Nakaya and Tomarev 2007

10. Overview Objective Background Summer Research Conclusion Future Directions

11. Hypothesis Olfactomedin 1a plays a role in specifying the formation of motoneurons. Questions Olfactomedin’s Role in Motoneuron Specification? Olfactomedin’s Function?

12. Methods RNA in situ hybridization MO Injections PCR

13. Assessing Morpholinos Titration Concentrations: 50, 125, and 500 µM 50µM 125µM 500µM

14. Overview Objective Background Summer Research Conclusion Future Directions

15. Results Uninjected Transgenic FishMO injected transgenic fish

16. Results Conclusion: Olfactomedin 1a may have a role in axon pathfinding! Uninjected transgenic fishMO injected transgenic fish

17. Overview Objective Background Summer Research Conclusion Future Directions

18. Determine RNA Expression Pattern Further Studies of Protein Functions

19. Acknowledgements Eisen Lab Judith Eisen Liesl Van Ryswyk Steve Seredick Julia Ganz Levi Simonson Ellie Melancon Dayna Lamb Fish Facility Spur Program Peter O’Day Lyndsey Goforth Blakely Strand Toby Fish Interns

20. Thank you!

21. Splice-blocking Morpholino