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AG Raabe

Proliferation control of neural progenitor cells

Drosophila as a model to study neural progenitor cells Left: Labeling of a subclass of neuroblasts (type II) and derived cells (green) in larval wild-type brains. Right: A single type II neuroblast (blue) generates intermediate neural progenitors, which maturate in a series of steps. Differential expression of Dpn (blue), Ase (red) or a combination of both (pink) allows to distinguish cell fates in this lineage.

Neuroblasts are the progenitor cells of the Drosophila central nervous system. Proper control of their proliferation to generate the right number of neuronal cells during development is essential to finally built up a functional nervous system. We are analysing a number of mutations causing hypo- or hypertrophy of the adult nervous system. In particular, we are interested in cell cycle and growth control of neuroblasts. Recently, we extended our research to the question whether and how daytime dependent cellular metabolism has an impact on neuroblasts.

 

Key publications:

Dapergola E., Menegazzi P., Raabe T., Hovhanyan A. (2021) Light stimuli and circadian clock affect neural development in Drosophila melanogaster. Front. Cell Dev. Biol.9: 595754

Blumröder, R., Glunz, A., Dunkelberger, B.S., Serway, C.N., Berger, C., Mentzel, B., de Belle, J.S., Raabe, T. (2016) Mcm3 replicative helicase mutation impairs neuroblast proliferation and memory in Drosophila. Genes, Brain & Behav. 15, 647-659.

Hovhanyan, A., Herter, E.K., Pfannstiel, J., Gallant, P., Raabe, T. (2014) Drosophila Mbm is a nucleolar Myc and Casein kinase 2 target required for ribosome biogenesis and cell growth of central brain neuroblasts. Mol. Cell. Biol. 34, 1878-1891.

Melzer, J. Kraft, K.F., Urbach, R., Raabe, T. (2013) The p21-activated kinase Mbt is a component of the apical protein complex in central brain neuroblasts and controls cell proliferation. Development 140, 1871-1881.