DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/9GQR-WQ87
Defense Date
2009
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Human Genetics
First Advisor
Rita Shiang
Abstract
Treacher Collins Syndrome (TCS) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by severe craniofacial defects. The syndrome is associated with mutations in the TCOF1 gene, which encodes a nucleolar phosphoprotein called treacle. Model organisms have been generated to model the disease and have revealed knowledge about the etiology and pathogenesis of the disorder. The craniofacial abnormality observed in TCS patients is found to be caused by an increased level of apoptosis in the neuroepithelium and from this it has been suggested that treacle is important for proper formation and proliferation of neural crest cells that will ultimately contribute to the face. The best attempt to rescue the phenotype of TCS was made by inhibiting the expression of p53 in both zebrafish and mouse models. Although both rescues were successful, it resulted in tumor formation in mice which limits the potential of using this type of rescue in humans. Therefore, it is very important to identify p53-downstream genes that were not 5 related to cancer and use them to interrupt the apoptosis pathway and hence rescuing the phenotype.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
July 2009