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Tatjana Piotrowski

Assistant Professor of Neurobiology and Anatomy

B.A. University of Tubingen, Germany

Ph.D. Max-Planck-Institute for Developmental Biology, Germany

Research

References

 

Tatjana Piotrowski's Lab Page

Research

We are studying how the sensory lateral line develops in zebrafish by analyzing mutants that affect this process. It consists of hair cells, which functionally and morphologically are very similar to the hair cells of the inner ear of higher vertebrates. In fish, the lateral line and the ear serve to detect vibrational signals (including sounds), which helps the animal to orient itself in the environment. Because of the similarity of structure and function of the hair cells in the ear and lateral line, it is likely that their development is based on similar genetic mechanisms. A key difference between these two sensory systems is that unlike the hair cells of the inner ear, the hair cells of the lateral line system are directly exposed to the environment. This property makes this system well-suited for the study of cell migration, cell proliferation, pattern formation, and for the direct application of functional, and electrophysiological assays.

As yet, hardly anything is known about the molecular nature that underlies the development and function of this system. The sensory organs (neuromasts) and the nerves that innervate them are derived from cranial neurogenic placodes that deposit neuromast primordia as the placodes elongate or migrate. The direction of migration, position and number of neuromasts is an inherent property of the placode. It is not known how the placode "knows" where, when and how many neuromasts to deposit and whether neural crest cells play a role in this process. Our research focuses on the elucidation of these mechanisms by isolating the genes responsible for defects in these processes in mutants. We identified 26 mutants with defects in placode migration and patterning of neuromasts, or the function of the sensory organs proper. Tools that we are using to analyze the mutants involve meiotic mapping, transplantation experiments, misexpression studies, establishment of transgenic lines, comparison of gene expression (in situ hybridization) in mutant and wild-type larvae, confocal microscopy and classical embryological methods.

 

a. The posterior lateral line placode in a 35h old live larva stained with Bodipy. The placode drops off neuromast precursors as it migrates posteriorly on the trunk. b. Differentiated neuromast with hair bundles in a 4d old larva. c. 5d old live larva in which the neuromasts are stained with the fluorescent dye Daspei.

References