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

Author: Kendall Miller | Major: Biology | Semester: Spring 2024

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 attending dental school at the University of Missouri – Kansas City and pursuing 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. Beginning with Ten-m proteins and ending with mitochondrial protein observations and characterization.

Under the direction of graduate student Maria España, 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. After creating the transgenic fly lines with innate autofluorescence in their mitochondrial and cell membranes, I was able to complete the full characterization of mitochondria during the process of convergent extension. Convergent extension is a period during Drosophila embryogenesis in which epithelial tissue narrows and extends along the anterior-posterior axis.

My findings were that prior to the process of convergent extension appeared to fragment allowing for a migration from the lower to upper regions of the cells. These fragmented mitochondria then appeared to reform their prior network configurations potentially as a means of providing the energy necessary for tissue elongation. Throughout convergent extension and after its conclusion these mitochondrial networks appear to slowly degrade into punctate mitochondrial units. With this completed characterization it may now be more possible to understand how mutations in the mitochondrial proteins OPA1 or DRP1 may affect mitochondrial networking and by proxy the process of convergent extension and tissue elongation.