Bves function in epithelial movement during development

Abstract

I will introduce two novel genes isolated by my laboratory, hole and bves. This document will show that the benefits of gene discovery are invaluable. Bves, a novel family of cell adhesion molecules have been identified and my dissertation will be the first illustration of a function of this molecule in vivo. Data derived from this dissertation provide strong in vitro and in vivo evidence that bves plays an adhesive role in epithelial adhesion and morphogenetic movements during gastrulation in Xenopus and eye morphogenesis. Though gastrulation and eye development occur at different times during development and result in two very different structures, they serve as examples of a fundamental role Bves serves throughout embryogenesis. Xbves is expressed in a distinct group of epithelial and migrating cells in the Xenopus embryo. In vivo studies in the Xenopus embryo show that Xbves is required for proper migration of epithelial animal cells. The same migration defect is seen in an in vitro model of corneal epithelial cells. Combined with previous data that show bves participates in epithelial to mesenchymal transition in epicardium and coronary artery development, as well as data that show bves expression across many tissues, the data presented here support the idea that one gene product can participate in a variety of developmental processes. This study is an important contribution to understanding the overall larger concept of how bves functions in embryogenesis and the adult. Taken together, these studies have shown that Bves is important in proper epithelial cell migration and morphogenesis.