Document Type

Article

Major

Molecular & Cell Biology, Statistics

Mentor

Prof. Jianjun Sun, Dept. of Physiology & Neurobiology

Disciplines

Cell and Developmental Biology

Abstract

Reproductive secretory cells are essential for fertility and have been implicated in diseases such as high-grade serous cancer, yet the molecular mechanisms governing their function remain poorly understood. Using genetic tools available in Drosophila melanogaster, we investigated whether Gαf contributes to reproductive secretory-cell function by examining its role in sperm storage. Gαf is highly expressed in these cells, suggesting a potential role in secretory cell function. Tissue-specific RNAi, trans-heterozygous mutants, and tissue-specific rescue were utilized to examine the role of Gαf in sperm storage. Gαf knockdown consistently reduced sperm storage, supporting a role for Gαf in maintaining normal sperm storage, whereas mutant and rescue experiments produced variable results that prevented definitive conclusions regarding the mutant phenotype or rescue of sperm storage.

Comments

The author thanks the Holster Scholars Program and the UConn Honors Program for support. 

Download

Share

COinS