How Neuronal Stem Cells Acquire and Maintain their Identity

Abstract

Neural stem cells (NSC) produce billions of neurons and glia which are required for the function of the human brain. However, the knowledge behind these progenitor cell’s type, fate and maintenance in mammals is still very fragmented. Within Drosophila, four different types of progenitors with partially identified regulator gene networks generate the brain. Of interest are Type II NSCs, whose progeny build the central complex, the functional analogue of the vertebrate hippocampus. A previous transcriptome study in the Barros/Bossing lab identified transcripts potentially conferring molecular identity within Type II NSC. We selected 8 nucleic-acid binding proteins from this screen, based on molecular conservation and conserved expression in the stem cell brain area of human and mice. The aim of my project is to identify how these genes confer identity and fate in Drosophila type II NSCs and translate results into the mammalian brain using the mouse model. Using knockdown and ectopic expression; we investigated the impact on stemness, differentiation and proliferation for all 8 candidates within early and late Drosophila larvae. Further investigation aimed to understand D4 in the complex regulation of NSCs, potentially allowing for development of NSC-based therapies for the increasing number of long-term brain disorders.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Plymouth
Supervisor	Torsten Bossing (Director of Studies (First Supervisor)), Claudia Barros (Other Supervisor) & Isabel Martinez-Garay (Other Supervisor)