Kendall Miller observing live imaging of mitochondrial networks during the intermediate stages of Drosophila embryogenesis.

Author: Kendall Miller | Major: Biology | Semester: Fall 2023

I am Kendall Miller, a Biology major with the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. My research mentor is Dr. Adam Paré, an assistant professor of the Department of Biological Sciences. Entering my final semester at the University of Arkansas, my future plans are to attend dental school and pursue specialization as either an Orthodontist or a Periodontist. To take my education and the skills I have learned and apply them in a manner that helps those in my local community of Northwest Arkansas would mean the world.

My research began analyzing the intricate formation of cellular compartment boundaries and, due to technical difficulties, has since shifted to a characterization of mitochondrial networks in Drosophila embryogenesis. For my original project, I worked on analyzing the importance of cell-surface protein Ten-m and its connections to the Leucine-rich repeat receptor Tartan. This project required intensive genetics work and eventually resulted in my shifting to a later project that focused on the characterization of mitochondrial networks in Drosophila during embryogenesis. Namely, observing in real-time how mitochondrial networks form and break down to accommodate the dynamic energy requirements of ectodermal cells. These projects have worked to contribute to the greater body of knowledge concerning embryological development in Drosophila and how these processes may be observed under other circumstances, such as wound healing.

My research experience began with much learning of the basics on my end, but quickly picked up the pace and resulted in my assignment of the prior project analyzing compartment boundaries. Meeting my research mentor, Dr. Adam Paré, was an act of fortunate coincidence as I had interviewed him on his research during my Freshman year and then quickly found myself sitting in a lecture hall learning genetics from his teaching. His research on Toll-like receptors and compartment boundaries was unlike anything I had learned before. I was fortunately able to become one of his undergraduate research assistants and begin pursuing these topics myself. With my interests, we decided that analyzing the Tem-m cell-surface protein was a good start.

That project had its difficulties as I continued to learn relevant skills, something I did through much practice and intensive reading. Dr. Paré was an extraordinary resource during this time as he answered my questions, provided me with relevant texts, and tirelessly built my interest in developmental biology as a discipline. It is through his mentorship I have been able to achieve the results I have to this point. However, my analysis of Ten-m was halted due to issues developing the proper DNA plasmids for creating transgenic fly lines. This was unfortunate, yet we wasted no time in getting my focus on another project, this time related to metabolism in Drosophila.

Under the direction of a graduate student, I began learning about mitochondrial dynamics, the relevant proteins, and why cells controlled their mitochondria in such a manner. In no time, I began my work to observe how genetic modification of genes related to mitochondrial proteins OPA1 and DRP1 could affect the expression and morphology of embryology mitochondrial networks. Repeating the graduate student’s previous project and helping to reinforce their previous data, I was put in charge of creating a characterization of mitochondrial morphology throughout the intermediate stages of Drosophila embryogenesis. The imaging and preparations for this project are in progress as I have created the transgenic fly lines with innate autofluorescence in their mitochondrial and cell membranes. I hope to have all live imaging of this process completed in early 2024 and then begin my complete characterization.