Abstract
The focus of this thesis is centered on the gene echinoid (ed), which is a cell adhesion molecule integral to the plasma membrane. ed has been previously shown to be involved in the development of Drosophila compound eyes and notum bristles. It is a negative regulator of EGF receptor signaling pathway and synergizes with Notch in mesothorax bristle patterning. Here, we performed a large-scale pull-down assay to screen for Ed direct-interacting proteins in order that we could understand how ed executed its multiple biological functions. A total of 53 proteins were identified in this assay, and twelve of them were selected as possible candidates and taken for further studies. Among these genes, six were proved to interact specifically with Ed in vitro. They were CG6459, jaguar, coronin, RACK1, CG3957 and ran, ranked and mentioned following their binding strength to Edintra (from strong to weak). These genes were formerly reported to be involved in diverse cellular processes, such as signal transduction, cell movement, cytoskeleton arrangement, vesicle transport, cell proliferation and even nuclear transport. Nonetheless, the project presented here is only the initial work of the research on echinoid. We need more biological evidence to prove these plausible candidates as true and meaningful research targets. Hopefully, in the end, several of them will reveal some interesting processes ed has taken a part in and help us gain a whole view of the physiological versatility of this membrane protein, Ed.