Departmental Seminar: Dr. Sally Horne-Badovinac

Event Date: 12.2.2013 Day: Monday Time: 12:00 pm Location: 700 Fairchild Event Type: Departmental

 Abstract

Basement membranes are specialized extracellular matrices that are essential for epithelial structure and morphogenesis. However, little is known about how the newly synthesized proteins are targeted to the basal cell surface or how this process is regulated during development.  Working in the Drosophila follicle cell epithelium, we have found that basement membrane proteins are synthesized in a basal endoplasmic reticulum compartment from localized mRNAs.  The proteins are then trafficked through the basal cytoplasm using a Rab10-dependent mechanism.  Interestingly, the specific basement membrane that we study also undergoes structural changes during development to create fibril-like structures that drive tissue elongation.  Our preliminary data suggest that a switch in the location where basement membrane proteins exit the cell, from the basal to lateral surface, may control fibril formation.  Thus, studies of this matrix remodeling event may reveal how choreographed changes in a cellular secretion program can help shape tissues and organs during development.