Publication Date
Summer 2016
Advisor(s) - Committee Chair
Dr. Ajay Srivastava (Director), Dr. Sigrid Jacobshagen, and Dr. Michael Smith
Degree Program
Department of Biology
Degree Type
Master of Science
Abstract
Metastatic cancer cells invade and spread to other locations by disrupting the basement membrane (BM). The membrane plays a major role during the normal development of an organism as well. In order to understand the invasion mechanism it is important to know about the interactions occurring between the proteins of the BM during normal development. This study concentrates on isolating and identifying the major factors associated with collagen IV, a major component of BM, during the third instar larval development of Drosophila. Western blot and mass spectrometry analysis revealed that collagen IV associates with various growth factors, signaling molecules, and proteins that may play a role during the development of Drosophila. Co-localization and knockdown studies performed on a single protein found through mass spectrometry suggested a possible role of this protein in the development of Drosophila. Further analysis of this proteins’ function will provide new insights into its developmental role and its potential role in collagen IV transport.
Disciplines
Biochemistry | Cell and Developmental Biology | Molecular Biology
Recommended Citation
Kapadia, Mayank S., "Identification of Collagen IV Associated Proteins in Drsophila Using Genetics and Mass Spectrometry" (2016). Masters Theses & Specialist Projects. Paper 1631.
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/1631