Investigating the Role of parn in Neutrophil Migration During Zebrafish Development
Location
Bent Corridor, Science Center
Document Type
Poster - Open Access
Start Date
5-1-2026 12:00 PM
End Date
5-1-2026 2:00 PM
Abstract
Cell migration is essential for embryonic development, facilitating processes such as tissue organization, immune responses, and organogenesis. Although the signalling pathways that dictate cell migration are well characterized, the role of post-transcriptional RNA regulation remains largely unknown. Parn is an mRNA deadenylase that regulates RNA stability and telomerase maturation. Mutations in the parn gene have also been linked to telomere-associated diseases such as dyskeratosis congenita. Although evidence suggests that parn acts on transcripts involved in cell migration and oocyte maturation, its function during vertebrate development has not been examined directly. We hypothesize that parn regulates neutrophil migration during zebrafish development by controlling mRNA turnover, and that both reduced and increased parn expression will lead to altered transcript levels, leading to altered cell migration and tissue patterning. To test this, we will first characterize parn expression over developmental stages using whole-mount in situ hybridization and qPCR. We will then alter parn levels via CRISPR-Cas13d-mediated knockdown and overexpression, with parn overexpression being done via injection of mRNA encoding the parn protein sequence. Embryos will be examined for cell migration abnormalities, and Sudan Black staining will be used to visualize neutrophils for examination of their migration patterns relative to controls. Injury to caudal fin tissue will be done to induce neutrophil migration. We predict that altering parn expression, whether via knockdown or overexpression, will produce abnormal neutrophil migration phenotypes. This research will help increase understanding of how post-translational RNA regulation shapes cell’s migration behavior during development and also on diseases like cancer.
Keywords:
Zebrafish, Gene regulation, Parn, Neutrophil
Recommended Citation
Barrett, Ryan; Sanusi, William; Allen, Hillary; and Endres, Charlie, "Investigating the Role of parn in Neutrophil Migration During Zebrafish Development" (2026). Research Symposium. 23.
https://digitalcommons.oberlin.edu/researchsymp/2026/posters/23
Major
Biology; Psychology
Project Mentor(s)
Monica Blatnik, Biology
2026
Investigating the Role of parn in Neutrophil Migration During Zebrafish Development
Bent Corridor, Science Center
Cell migration is essential for embryonic development, facilitating processes such as tissue organization, immune responses, and organogenesis. Although the signalling pathways that dictate cell migration are well characterized, the role of post-transcriptional RNA regulation remains largely unknown. Parn is an mRNA deadenylase that regulates RNA stability and telomerase maturation. Mutations in the parn gene have also been linked to telomere-associated diseases such as dyskeratosis congenita. Although evidence suggests that parn acts on transcripts involved in cell migration and oocyte maturation, its function during vertebrate development has not been examined directly. We hypothesize that parn regulates neutrophil migration during zebrafish development by controlling mRNA turnover, and that both reduced and increased parn expression will lead to altered transcript levels, leading to altered cell migration and tissue patterning. To test this, we will first characterize parn expression over developmental stages using whole-mount in situ hybridization and qPCR. We will then alter parn levels via CRISPR-Cas13d-mediated knockdown and overexpression, with parn overexpression being done via injection of mRNA encoding the parn protein sequence. Embryos will be examined for cell migration abnormalities, and Sudan Black staining will be used to visualize neutrophils for examination of their migration patterns relative to controls. Injury to caudal fin tissue will be done to induce neutrophil migration. We predict that altering parn expression, whether via knockdown or overexpression, will produce abnormal neutrophil migration phenotypes. This research will help increase understanding of how post-translational RNA regulation shapes cell’s migration behavior during development and also on diseases like cancer.
