Date of Award
12-11-2023
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Neuroscience Institute
First Advisor
Daniel Cox
Second Advisor
Angela Mabb
Third Advisor
Nancy Forger
Fourth Advisor
Victor Faundez
Abstract
The development of cell-type-specific dendritic arbors is integral to the proper functioning of neurons within their circuit networks. In this study, we examine the regulatory relationship between the cytosolic chaperonin CCT, key insulin pathway genes, and an E3 ubiquitin ligase (Cullin1) in homeostatic dendritic development. CCT loss of function (LOF) results in dendritic hypotrophy in Drosophila Class IV (CIV) multidendritic larval sensory neurons, and individual CCT subunits are required to support the chaperonin’s promotion of dendritic arbors. CCT has recently been shown to fold components of the TOR (Target of Rapamycin) complex 1 (TORC1), in vitro. Through targeted genetic manipulations, we have confirmed that LOF of CCT and the TORC1 pathway reduces dendritic complexity, while overexpression of key TORC1 pathway genes increases dendritic complexity in CIV neurons. Both CCT and TORC1 LOF significantly reduce microtubule (MT) stability. Activation of TORC1 and Cullin1 LOF result in mixed MT phenotypes. CCT has been previously implicated in regulating proteinopathic aggregation, thus we examined CIV dendritic development in disease conditions as well. Expression of mutant Huntingtin leads to dendritic hypotrophy in a repeat-length-dependent manner, which can be rescued by TORC1 disinhibition via Cullin1 LOF. Together, our data suggest that Cullin1 and CCT influence dendritic arborization through regulation of TORC1 in both health and disease.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/36170862
Recommended Citation
Lottes, Erin, "The Role of Cytosolic Chaperonin CCT in Dendritic Development and Neuronal Disease." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2023.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/36170862
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