Connecting Environment and Phenotype: Deciphering Mechanisms of Diapause Entry and Exit in the Annual Killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus

Author

Erin Monica Davis, Portland State UniversityFollow

Sponsor

Portland State University. Department of Biology

First Advisor

Jason Podrabsky

Term of Graduation

Winter 2021

Date of Publication

4-15-2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.) in Biology

Department

Biology

Language

English

Subjects

Killifishes -- Embryos -- Development, Cholecalciferol, Diapause, Killifishes -- Embryos -- Effect of environment on, Epigenetics

DOI

10.15760/etd.7552

Physical Description

1 online resource (viii, 92 pages)

Abstract

Embryonic development is complex, dynamic, and dependent on environmental factors. Mechanisms of sensing and integrating environmental stimuli are diverse, and understanding these mechanisms in extant species can elucidate how complex phenotypes emerge from genomic information expressed in an environmental context. In Austrofundulus limnaeus, an annual killifish with alternative developmental trajectories, light and temperature are vital factors that determine if an embryo will enter a state of diapause. We hypothesize that embryos of A. limnaeus use the vitamin D₃ signaling pathway as a vehicle to incorporate these ecological signals into their developmental programing. Here we provide evidence of this pathway's importance in regulating both entrance into and exit from diapause. We use a pharmacological approach to explore this pathway and closely related hormone receptors on the regulation of diapause. Exposure of A. limnaeus embryos to metabolites found in similar invertebrate signaling pathways, as well as parallel studies performed on Danio rerio zebrafish embryos support a role for vitamin D₃ signaling in the control of developmental progression. Further, we highlight key potential targets for the vitamin D₃ pathway that may elicit exit from diapause through regulation of DNA methylation.

Rights

© 2021 Erin Monica Davis

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/35663

Recommended Citation

Davis, Erin Monica, "Connecting Environment and Phenotype: Deciphering Mechanisms of Diapause Entry and Exit in the Annual Killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus" (2021). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 5680.
https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.7552