The Role of Actin-Capping Protein and Src signalling in tissue growth and apoptosis during Drosophila wing development

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Developmental Biology

The actin cytoskeleton controls numerous cellular processes, including cell morphology and polarity, endocytosis, intracellular trafficking, contractility and cell division. Actin filament growth, stability and disassembly are controlled by a plethora of actin-binding proteins. Among them Capping Protein is a highly conserved αβ heterodimer, which binds the barbed ends of actin filaments, inhibiting addition or loss of actin monomers.(...)