Evolution of Gene Networks Controlling Gonadogenesis in Nematodes

器官发生涉及基本的细胞过程，包括细胞分裂、存活和分化，这些过程在整个发育过程中被用来产生各种各样的动物形态。 因此，了解这些过程是如何调节的，以及这种调节在物种内部和物种之间是如何不同的，是发育和进化生物学中的一个重要问题。 模式线虫秀丽隐杆线虫将被用来定义的遗传和分子机制的生殖器官的发展。 这种模型的一个主要优点是它的简单性：生殖器官从只有四个细胞的原基发育而来。 这些细胞中的两个，体细胞性腺前体细胞（SGPs），产生性腺的所有体细胞组织。 在它们的第一次分裂中，SGPs做出几个细胞命运决定，并且它们使用复杂的转录调节因子网络来这样做。 比较研究表明，这种遗传网络在相关的线虫物种中是不同的。 本项目的研究重点是C.优雅 其中一个家族成员在遗传调控网络中具有明确的相互作用，并且似乎最近获得了这些相互作用。 该建议使用遗传和分子方法研究该基因家族的进化和功能。 该建议的具体目标是：1）确定C语言中所有家庭成员的表达和功能; elegans和2）使用正向和反向遗传学将遗传调控网络连接到其下游靶基因。 总之，拟议的实验将提供深入了解基因家族和遗传网络的进化。 来自不同背景的本科生和研究生将参与这项研究。 通过这种参与，他们将获得分子生物学和遗传学的实践经验。

Organogenesis involves basic cellular processes, including cell division, survival, and differentiation, which are utilized throughout development to generate a wide array of animal forms. Therefore, understanding how these processes are regulated and how this regulation differs, within and among species, is an important problem in developmental and evolutionary biology. The model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans will be used to define the genetic and molecular mechanisms governing the development of the reproductive organs. A major advantage of this model is its simplicity: the reproductive organs develop from a primordium that has only four cells. Two of these cells, the somatic gonadal precursors (SGPs), generate all somatic tissues of the gonad. In their first division, the SGPs make several cell fate decisions and they employ a complex network of transcriptional regulators to do so. Comparative studies suggest that this genetic network differs in related nematode species. This project focuses on a new family of zinc finger genes in C. elegans. One of the family members has well-defined interactions in the genetic regulatory network and it appears to have recently acquired these interactions. This proposal examines the evolution and function of this gene family using genetic and molecular approaches. The specific aims of the proposal are to: 1) determine the expression and function of all family members in C. elegans and 2) link the genetic regulatory network to its downstream target genes using forward and reverse genetics. Together, the proposed experiments will provide insight into the evolution of gene families and genetic networks. Undergraduate and graduate students from diverse backgrounds will be involved in this research. Through this involvement, they will gain hands-on experience with molecular biology and genetics.