Exploring the role of alternative polyadenylation and splicing during zebrafish embryogenesis

Location

CELA & Mary Church Terrell Library, First Floor

Document Type

Poster - Open Access

Start Date

4-25-2025 12:00 PM

End Date

4-25-2025 2:00 PM

Research Program

Oberlin Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (OSRI)

Abstract

During transcription of a gene, one of the final steps required to make an mRNA is known as polyadenylation, which involves the addition of a polyA tail, or a stretch of adenosines that help promote translation and protect the mRNA from damage in the cytoplasm. For many genes, addition of this tail can occur at one of multiple possible locations in the 3’ untranslated region (3’UTR). Alternative polyadenylation involves the production of different mRNA sequences with different 3'UTR lengths, which contain binding sites for proteins and miRNAs that influence the stability or localization of the mRNA. In our lab, we use zebrafish as a model organism to study how alternative polyadenylation influences the determination of the identities and functions of cells. The genes we explore are: myo1b, elavl1a, and the ZEB1 family(zeb1a & zeb1b), each playing some role in cell division or differentiation during embryonic development. Though the expression of our genes of interest have been assessed, the functions of these unique isoforms have not previously been described. So far, we have used qPCR to quantitatively investigate the changes of gene expression across development. In our preliminary work, myo1b and zeb1a short isoforms were most highly expressed at 48 hours post-fertilization, elavl1a short isoform expressed more than the long consistently. We also hope to use in situ hybridization to analyze spatial expression of our isoforms of interest. Ultimately, we aim to characterize differential expression between different isoforms across stages of embryogenesis to better understand the impact of alternative polyadenylation during development.

Keywords:

Zebrafish, Development, Gene regulation

Notes

Presenters: Emma Wei, Ermeirui Liao, and Ellie Pollock-Ballard

Major

Biology

Project Mentor(s)

Monica Blatnik, Biology

2025

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Apr 25th, 12:00 PM Apr 25th, 2:00 PM

Exploring the role of alternative polyadenylation and splicing during zebrafish embryogenesis

CELA & Mary Church Terrell Library, First Floor

During transcription of a gene, one of the final steps required to make an mRNA is known as polyadenylation, which involves the addition of a polyA tail, or a stretch of adenosines that help promote translation and protect the mRNA from damage in the cytoplasm. For many genes, addition of this tail can occur at one of multiple possible locations in the 3’ untranslated region (3’UTR). Alternative polyadenylation involves the production of different mRNA sequences with different 3'UTR lengths, which contain binding sites for proteins and miRNAs that influence the stability or localization of the mRNA. In our lab, we use zebrafish as a model organism to study how alternative polyadenylation influences the determination of the identities and functions of cells. The genes we explore are: myo1b, elavl1a, and the ZEB1 family(zeb1a & zeb1b), each playing some role in cell division or differentiation during embryonic development. Though the expression of our genes of interest have been assessed, the functions of these unique isoforms have not previously been described. So far, we have used qPCR to quantitatively investigate the changes of gene expression across development. In our preliminary work, myo1b and zeb1a short isoforms were most highly expressed at 48 hours post-fertilization, elavl1a short isoform expressed more than the long consistently. We also hope to use in situ hybridization to analyze spatial expression of our isoforms of interest. Ultimately, we aim to characterize differential expression between different isoforms across stages of embryogenesis to better understand the impact of alternative polyadenylation during development.