Investigating the role of heartless/FGF signalling pathway in the proximal satellite glia and L5 neurons of the drosophila optic lobe

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling is known to be essential for various cellular functions including survival, proliferation, migration, and morphogenesis. We used the Drosophila visual system to investigate how the FGF signalling pathway plays a role in these cellular functions in the proximal satellite glia (psg). Psgs are a type of cortex glia, which wrap specifically around the cell bodies of a specific type of lamina neuron, the L5 neuron. Our results suggest that the FGF receptor Heartless (Htl) signalling pathway in psgs is essential for their own survival, although the source of FGFs for this function does not appear to be derived from the L5 neurons. Additionally, we also found that the migration of psgs into the lamina, and the morphogenesis of psgs to wrap around the L5 neurons did not appear to be determined by Htl/FGF signalling pathway. Finally, we also found that it was possible that L5 neuronal numbers may be regulated by psg numbers in the lamina. Our study points to the complex workings of FGF signalling and confirmed that it is essential for the normal development of these glia.Bachelor of Science in Biological Science