Title: A model system to study the function of the non-receptor tyrosine kinase Abelson

(Research Advisor: Dr. Mark Peifer, Mentor: Traci Jesse)

Laura Koontz

Adherens junctions (AJs) hold cells together in epithelial sheets to form tissues like skin. Cadherin proteins project from the cell surface and link cells together by binding neighboring cells’ cadherins.  Armadillo (Arm) and α-catenin bind the intracellular tail of cadherin, linking it to the actin cytoskeleton.  By connecting cytoskeletons of adjoining cells, AJs allow cells to coordinate actions; for example, allowing epithelial sheet migration. Abelson tyrosine kinase (Abl) is a kinase, a protein that regulates the activity of other proteins in a cell.  We hypothesize that regulated Abl kinase activity is needed to allow cells to form tissues correctly during embryonic development.  We use Drosophila embryos as a model system.  To test this hypothesis, I am studying the effects of expressing a de-regulated, mutant form of Abl, called Bcr-Abl, similar to that found in leukemia patients.  We hypothesized that Abl might regulate Arm, a component of AJs.