MAPPING THE EXPRESSION DYNAMICS AND INTERACTIONS OF WNT3 IN LIVE ZEBRAFISH EMBRYOS USING FLUORESCENCE TECHNIQUES

Abstract

Wnt3 is a signalling molecule that modulates the development of cerebellum in zebrafish, and inhibiting the secretion of Wnt3 results in defective brain development. Therefore, it is essential to understand where Wnt3 is produced, how they spread in their target tissues, and quantify their dynamics and interactions, to delineate the role and function of Wnt3 in brain development. In my thesis, I first mapped the source and target regions for Wnt3 in the developing zebrafish brain. Subsequently, I verified if Wnt3 spreads extracellularly in the interstitial spaces using quantitative fluorescence techniques. Following this, I measured the in-vivo interactions of Wnt3 and Fzd1 and highlighted the significance of the co-receptor LRP5. Finally, I constructed a 3D atlas of the interstitial spaces of the zebrafish brain and generated computational scaffolds to perform simulations. This study will help us to better comprehend how the gradient kinetics of Wnt3 regulates brain development.