Líffræðifélag Íslands
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2015
Erindi/veggspjald / Talk/poster V81
Atacho, D.A.M.(1,2), Ukmar, M.(1,3), Petursdottir, A.Th.(1), Steingrimsson, E.(2), Petersen, P.H.(1)
(1)Department of Anatomy, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Iceland. (2)Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Iceland. (3) Department of Laboratory Biomedicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Kynnir / Presenter: Diahann A. M. Atacho
Tengiliður / Corresponding author: Diahann A. M. Atacho (dam9@hi.is)
Microphthalmia associated transcription factor (MITF) is the master regulator of melanocytes and is necessary for the development and maintenance of mast cells and osteoclasts. We have discovered that MITF is expressed in the mammalian central nervous system, most strongly in tufted and mitral cells of the olfactory bulb. Using the Mitf mi-vga9 mutant mouse, we have discovered that the loss of Mitf leads to an increase in inhibitory interneurons and changes in the expression of potassium channel sub-units. Moreover, the mutant mice have an increased ability to discriminate between odors. As the nervous system is shaped and regulated by neuronal activity and the appropriate response to activity is required for proper functioning, synapse formation and maintenance of a healthy neuron, a key goal of our current study is to determine whether MITF takes part in activity-induced responses at the transcriptional level. We have found that a multitude of genes, including activity-dependent genes are affected in the Mitf mi-vga9 mutant mouse. Further studies aim to show the mechanism in which MITF regulates activity-dependent responses in the olfactory bulb and how this relates to the olfactory phenotype.