Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2010

Mentor: Jane Johnson
Department: Neuroscience
Room number: NA4.146
Mail Code: 9111
Phone number: 214-648-1870
E-mail: jane.johnson@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title: Identifying Ptf1a lineage cells in the adult hypothalamus

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): NA

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 0603-06-03-1

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects)

Brief Description of Project:

Ptf1a is a transcription factor expressed in the developing neural tube in a subset of neural progenitors. It is known to be required for generation of inhibitory neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, cerebellum, and retina. One population of Ptf1a lineage cells which is not yet characterized is in the hypothalamus. Because Ptf1a is expressed only transiently during development, mouse models designed for in vivo fate mapping must be used to characterize the adult cell types derived from the Ptf1a expressing cells. The project is to use an in vivo genetic fate mapping strategy to identify the hypothalamic neurons that arise in the Ptf1a lineage.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

Summer 2009 MSI Project with Alex Wyckoff