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Content archived on 2024-06-18

Characterization of the role of morphogens during growth of the Zebrafish pectoral fin using advanced biophysical tools

Objective

During development an organ grows to a final size and shape and its cells acquire information about their position and differentiate according to their location. Morphogens play an important role in this process by coordinating growth and patterning of developing tissues. In this project the fellow will fully characterize the growth of the pectoral fin of the Zebrafish, a vertebrate, and study the role morphogens play herein, using a multidisciplinary, quantitative, biophysical approach. First, the kinetic parameters of growth during embryonic pectoral fin development will be quantified. For this purpose the fellow will establish a Digital Scanned Light-Sheet Fluorescence Microscope and transgenic Zebrafish expressing GFP-based mitotic phase biosensors. Next, the morphogen gradient parameters during the fin growth phase will be quantified using two-photon, spinning disc and DSLM microscopy. The fellow will establish transgenic Zebrafish lines expressing functional GFP fusions of the morphogens. The transport parameters of the morphogens will be quantified by performing FRAP and Photoactivation of the morphogens fused to suitable fluorescent proteins. Finally, he will quantify the signal transduction response to the morphogen, by using or establishing signaling biosensors for the different morphogens. By these four different approaches a comprehensive, quantitative picture of fin growth and the progression of morphogen gradients will be obtained. It will ultimately allow us to understand the underlying cell biology of gradient formation and how morphogens control patterning and growth in a relatively simple model system. The field of quantitative developmental biology is a new and emerging field. It therefore needs young researchers who are trained in this field. With the support of the IEF program the fellow will be able to become an independent researcher and in the future it will help him in establishing his own line of research in this growing field.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Topic(s)

Call for proposal

FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF)

Coordinator

UNIVERSITE DE GENEVE
EU contribution
€ 173 065,20
Address
RUE DU GENERAL DUFOUR 24
1211 Geneve
Switzerland
Region
Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Région lémanique Genève
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
No data