After several years of waiting, my diploma thesis work in Karl-Friedrich Fischbachs laboratory, University of Freiburg has finally gotten published in PLoS ONE on June 8th 2015. The paper describes the interactions of the cell adhesion molecules Roughest, Hibris, Kin of Irre and Sticks and Stones in the formation of bristles on the Drosophila anterior wing margin. Research on cell adhesion molecules is important as they are key molecules in the formation of the nervours system and other organs. Research on cell adhesion is apart from its interest in developmental biology also highly relevant to developmental diseases of the nervous system and other organs. After years, I am really happy to finally close this chapter of scientific career. Please find the first figure and the abstract below.
The Cell Adhesion Molecules Roughest, Hibris, Kin of Irre and Sticks and Stones Are Required for Long Range Spacing of the Drosophila Wing Disc Sensory Sensilla
Abstract
Most animal tissues and organ systems are comprised of highly ordered arrays of varying cell types. The development of external sensory organs requires complex cell-cell communication in order to give each cell a specific identity and to ensure a regular distributed pattern of the sensory bristles. This involves both long and short range signaling mediated by either diffusible or cell anchored factors. In a variety of processes the heterophilic Irre Cell Recognition Module, consisting of the Neph-like proteins: Roughest, Kin of irre and of the Nephrin-like proteins: Sticks and Stones, Hibris, plays key roles in the recognition events of different cell types throughout development. In the present study these proteins are apically expressed in the adhesive belt of epithelial cells participating in sense organ development in a partially exclusive and asymmetric manner. Using mutant analysis the GAL4/UAS system, RNAi and gain of function we found an involvement of all four Irre Cell Recognition Module-proteins in the development of a highly structured array of sensory organs in the wing disc. The proteins secure the regular spacing of sensory organs showing partial redundancy and may function in early lateral inhibition events as well as in cell sorting processes. Comparisons with other systems suggest that the Irre Cell Recognition module is a key organizer of highly repetitive structures.