Neurons are essential to the structure and function of organisms, making it important to understand the mechanisms underlying their organization and functions. Microtubules are key structural elements of neurons that function as the train tracks of the cell to transport essential cargoes throughout the cell. My research focuses on uncovering the mechanisms that facilitate the localization of γTubulin (γTub) to dendritic branch points where it functions to generate these microtubules throughout the neuron. I hypothesized that the nearby epithelial cells were the source of the initial Wnt ligand that kickstarts the γTub localization pathway. I found that new transgenic lines were necessary to investigate this hypothesis, and I helped in the creation of these lines. I also hypothesized that clathrin-mediated endocytosis was involved in endocytosing Wnts and their receptors to subsequently recruit Wnt signaling proteins to endosomes to propagate the signal. I found that clathrin behaves differently when clathrin-mediated endocytosis is inhibited and after axon injury, with the latter supporting the hypothesis that clathrin-mediated endocytosis may play an upstream role in γTub localization. I also found that levels of disheveled (dsh) were not altered after endocytosis inhibition for a short duration, indicating that a longer inhibition may be needed to generate a significant effect. My findings have further provided the necessary tools and foundations for continued investigation into the mechanisms of the γTub localization pathway at dendritic branch points.
