Level of Education of Students Involved

Undergraduate

Faculty Sponsor

Masaru Nakamoto

College

College of Arts & Sciences (CAS)

Discipline(s)

Biology, Immunohistochemistry

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Symposium Date

Spring 4-30-2026

Abstract

Correct functioning of the nervous system is critically dependent on the formation of precise neuronal networks. These networks are established during development through navigation of axons guided by external molecular cues that attract or repel growing axons. In mammals, binocular vision is established by axon projections from retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) of each eye to both sides of the brain. RGC axons from the right and left eyes are segregated in different layers/domains in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) of the thalamus, the main target of RGC axons. This projection pattern provides the anatomical basis for disparity-based stereopsis. Nell2 (Neural epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like-like 2) is a secreted glycoprotein that is most prominently expressed in the nervous system. We have previously shown that Nell2 acts as an axon guidance cue that inhibits contralateral, but not ipsilateral, RGC axons in the dLGN and is essential for the eye-specific retinogeniculate projection. The current study aims to identify the receptor(s) for Nell2 in RGC axon guidance and to determine the expression patterns of Nell2 and its receptors in the developing nervous system. By using immunohistochemistry, we found that the receptor tyrosine kinase Ros1, which is known to bind Nell2, is expressed in developing chick RGCs, suggesting that Ros1 may transduce Nell2-mediated signaling in RGC axons. We also detected expression of Nell2 and Ros1 in multiple regions of the developing chick brain. Our results suggest that the Nell2-Ros1 interaction play diverse roles in neuronal network formation and other processes of neural development.

Biographical Information about Author(s)

Jessica Lumakovska is a senior undergraduate biology major with a minor in chemistry on the pre-medical track. Her academic and research interests center on ophthalmology, where she aims to combine her scientific background with a passion for clinical care and vision science.

Autumn Underwood is a senior undergraduate biology major with a minor in chemistry and a concentration in biomedical sciences on a pre-veterinary track. She intends to specialize in trauma surgery and hopes to carry her research experiences with her and further apply them in a medical setting, and ultimately in her career. 

Jelena Kolundzija is a senior undergraduate student pursuing a double major in Biology and Psychology with a minor in Chemistry on the pre-med track. She intends to obtain a doctoral degree with a focus on medical neuroscience and neurodegenerative disease research. Her goal is to conduct clinical neurological research in hopes of better understanding brain disorders.

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