RUI: A Genetic Analysis of Conjugation in Tetrahymena thermophila

科尔9807555淡水纤毛虫嗜热四膜虫（Tetrahymena thermophila）将作为探索接合程序发育规律的实验生物。研究目标是：1）进一步探索四膜虫中接合的发育依赖性和发育逻辑，2）使用先进的显微镜技术在发育的关键点期间产生核-细胞骨架相互作用的超详细描述，3）协助开发和/或实施旨在鉴定接合特异性基因并探索其功能的分子遗传学程序。嗜热四膜虫中的接合是有趣的，因为诸如减数分裂、核交换和受精、程序化核消除、合子基因组的转录激活和基因组重组的基本细胞事件都在12小时时间表中的明确定义的时间内在高度同步的群体内发生。在上一个奖项的任期内开发了一种产生影响缀合途径的突变的方法。13接合突变体影响几乎每个阶段的配偶发展进行了分离和鉴定。这样的特性允许生产的详细模型的发展的依赖关系，这是共轭程序的基础。这项工作的继续不仅将进一步深入了解基本的遗传机制，而且将有助于教育学生的需求以及基础研究的满意度。

Cole 9807555The freshwater ciliate, Tetrahymena thermophila, will be the experimental organism used to explore the developmental regulation of the conjugation program. The research objectives are: 1) To further explore the developmental dependencies and developmental logic underlying conjugation in Tetrahymena thermophila, 2) To use advanced microscopy techniques to produce an ultra-detailed description of nuclear-cytoskeletal interactions during critical points in development and, 3) To assist in the development and/or implementation of molecular genetic procedures designed to identify conjugation specific genes and explore their function. Conjugation in Tetrahymena thermophila is interesting in that such fundamental cellular events as meiosis, nuclear exchange and fertilization, programmed nuclear elimination, transcriptional activation of the zygotic genome and genomic reorganization all occur within a highly synchronous population at well defined times during a twelve hour schedule. A method of generating mutations that affect the conjugation pathway was developed during the tenure of the previous award. Thirteen conjugation mutants affecting nearly every stage of conjugal development were isolated and characterized. Such characterization allowed the production of a detailed model of developmental dependencies, which underlie the conjugation program. The continuation of this work will not only allow further insight into fundamental genetic mechanisms but will serve to educate students in the demands as well as the satisfaction of basic research.