Single-cell level analysis to uncover the transcriptional logic of development and function in the Drosophila thoracic nervous system.

Darren Williams (primary)
Centre for Developmental Neurobiology
King's College London
James Briscoe (secondary)
The Francis Crick Institute
University College London

Abstract

Drosophila is a key model for studying nervous system development and function. This project will uncover the cell-type diversity in the thoracic network using large-scale single-cell RNAseq. This approach will provide key insights into the transcriptional programs that orchestrate lineage-specific cellular modules, with particular focus on neurotransmitter and neuromodulatory systems. The project involves computational analysis of very large datasets to generate cell-type clustering and build gene networks. The ‘molecular fingerprints’ of these cell-types will also allow evolutionary comparisons with cells from the axial nervous systems of vertebrates and other invertebrates.


References

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3. Postembryonic lineages of the Drosophila ventral nervous system: Neuroglian expression reveals the adult hemilineage associated fiber tracts in the adult thoracic neuromeres. Shepherd D, Harris R, Williams DW, Truman JW. J Comp Neurol. 2016 Sep 1;524(13):2677-95.

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5. A Gene Regulatory Network Balances Neural and Mesoderm Specification during Vertebrate Trunk Development. Gouti M, Delile J, Stamataki D, Wymeersch FJ, Huang Y, Kleinjung J, Wilson V, Briscoe J. Dev Cell. 2017 May 8;41(3):243-261


Area of Biology
Cell BiologyNeurobiology
Techniques & Approaches
BioinformaticsGeneticsImage ProcessingMicroscopy / ElectrophysiologyMolecular BiologySimulation / Modelling