MRPG: Regulation of Olfactory Sustentacular Cell-Specific Gene Expression

在哺乳动物的鼻子里，含有嗅觉的细胞片 受体还含有许多支持细胞。 这些功能 支持细胞还不是很清楚，但它们的分泌物可以调节 处理上皮潮湿涂层中的气味分子。 现在那里 对化学感受组织中受体的功能是如何 受这种受体周围机制的影响。 这种有限的研究是少数 研究计划补助金，使用分子工具来确定基因表达， 从而阐明了这些细胞产生蛋白质的机制， 监管. 结果将通过奠定基础对化学传感器研究产生影响 以进一步分析这类重要的细胞。 通过帮助建立一个 一个年轻的研究者，教师和导师的独立职业生涯 在科学领域仍然代表性不足，这个奖项也将对 科学和教育的基础设施。

Inside the nose of mammals, the sheet of cells that contains olfactory receptors also contains many sustentacular cells. The function of these sustentacular cells is not well understood, but their secretions may modulate the handling of odorant molecules in the moist coating of the epithelium. There now an active interest in how functions of receptors in chemosensory tissues are influenced by such peri-receptor mechanisms. This limited study is a Minority Research Planning Grant that uses molecular tools to identify gene expression, and so clarify mechanisms by which the proteins produced by these cells are regulated. Results will have an impact on chemosensory research by laying groundwork for further analysis of this important class of cells. By helping to establish an independent career for a young investigator, teacher and mentor from a group that remains underrepresented in science, this award also will have an impact on the infrastructure of science and education.