Laterality has an important correlation to behavior and genetic disorders. Behavior can be observed through the brain hemispheres, and certain disorders have a unique pattern of laterality. Using the model organism, Caenorhabditis elegans, gives more insight into human laterality. C. elegans laterality is observed through gut laterality that is established in the embryonic cell rotation. During early embryonic development, the direction of the rotation between the ABar, ABal, ABpr, ABpl cells shows laterality. The presence of certain genes have an impact on the rotation and gut laterality. More specifically, this project will focus on the embryonic rotations in TBB-1. TBB-1 is an important component of the microtubule, which forms the mitotic spindle. The mitotic spindle is known for its importance in chromatid separation. The absence of TBB-1 could lead to reverse gut laterality. Observing the embryonic cell rotation in C. elegans, gives more insight into its human ortholog and disease. C. elegans gut laterality can provide an understanding of the mechanisms of human laterality, which can impact behavioral studies.

Role of Schizophernia Associated Gene in Laterality Development

The Biomolecular Core Laboratory (BCL) is located at the Nemours/Alfred I duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware and has been serving the clinical and scientific community for 20 years. This resource laboratory has provided essential services in molecular biology and genetics to clinicians and research scientists at Nemours Children’s Health System and affiliated partner institutions including University of Delaware, Thomas Jefferson College of Medicine, Delaware State University, Wesley College, Delaware Technical Community College, and Christiana Care Health System. Working in close collaboration with our partnering institutions throughout the CTR and IDeA networks, our global mission is to facilitate discoveries that begin at both the basic and translational research levels. The BCL is a collaborative research lab providing support for the development of new research projects as well as mentoring, training, and educational opportunities to staff and students. We offer low-cost, fast-turnaround, high-quality services that are essential to many clinical and hypothesis driven projects. The BCL enables research excellence by offering genomics technologies including sanger sequencing, fragment analysis, nucleic acid isolation, digital PCR, genotyping, copy number analysis, gene expression analysis, as well as access to shared instrumentation. The BCL staff not only provides expertise in project design and data troubleshooting but also offers support for grant applications, budget preparations and manuscripts. The ultimate goal of this laboratory is to provide biomedical investigators with state-of-the-art technical support and clinicians with tools that can help improve pediatric supportive care and/or therapeutic intervention. This poster will present an overview of the services available to the IDeA community.

The Nemours Biomolecular Core Lab: A Resource for Biomedical Research

The “Delaware Nucleotide Analysis (DNA) Core Center” is a genomics core facility debuting at Delaware State University. The Core offers services for a variety of research focuses including biology, medical, environmental, and agricultural sciences. The core is equipped with instruments covering most DNA and RNA sequencing studies. Services include automated systems for sample library preparation and quality control as well as second generation Illumina sequencer and third generation PacBio sequencer. For members of the DSU community, external academic institutions, and the private sector, the core offers full service and a la carte service options dependent upon client request. The DNA Core also provides workshops and educational training for new users of Core systems in the DSU family and external community.

Launching the DNA Core Center at Delaware State University

Neurons must fire together in networks to perform a variety of functions but the mechanisms by which they accomplish this synchronization are not entirely understood. In some cases, this phenomenon does not function as intended, leading to states like epileptic seizures. Existing models of synchronous activity assume that it is intrinsic to neurons. Astrocytes have been shown to modulate oscillatory activity in networks of neurons possibly by releasing gliotransmitters like glutamate and ATP. Using the mitotic inhibitor 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (FUdR) we established pure neuron only cultures from chick embryonic day 7 (E7) optic tectum and recorded neuronal network activity on multielectrode arrays (MEAs). Our preliminary results indicate that astrocytes are necessary for synchronous activity of neurons in culture. Mixed neuron and astrocyte cultures on multi-electrode arrays (MEAs) show random spiking activity which synchronizes over time whereas astrocyte-free neurons only show random activity without synchronization. Our results validated that the physical presence of astrocytes is required to properly establish synchronized activity in neuronal networks. We implicate calcium mobilization within astrocytes via metabotropic g-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) pathways leading to gliotransmitter release as a possible mechanism for neuronal synchronization. To test this hypothesis, we used an optogenetic approach – using a lentiviral vector we expressed the photopigment melanopsin, a Gaq coupled GPCR with an absorption peak of around 470nm, in chick optic tectum astrocytes. Our preliminary optogenetic activation experiments indicate Ca++ flux in astrocytes upon optogenetic stimulation with 470nm blue light. This powerful tool allows us to combine live calcium imaging with multielectrode array experiments to clearly define the role of astrocytic calcium in the development of network activity of neurons, particularly synchronization.

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Role of Schizophernia Associated Gene in Laterality Development

The Nemours Biomolecular Core Lab: A Resource for Biomedical Research

Launching the DNA Core Center at Delaware State University

An Optogenetic Approach To Understand Molecular Mechanisms of Astrocyte-Neuron Interactions in the Development of Neuronal Synchrony

New Genetic Causes of Congenital Hypothyroidism

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