RUI: Genetic Analysis of the C. elegans Tailless Gene nhr-67

Wightman实验室正在研究秀丽隐杆线虫（Caenorhabditis elegans）子宫发育的分子机制。这项研究为理解所有动物的器官如何发育提供了一个模型。动物形态的进化变化在很大程度上是由生物体潜在发育程序的改变引起的。关键的发育调控基因的功能在许多门中都是保守的，但相同的途径在不同的生物中被修改为不同的目的。Wightman实验室正在研究一个进化上保守的基因nhr-67的功能是如何在线虫的子宫器官发生中被采用的。在大多数（如果不是全部的话）动物中都有类似的基因，包括人类和苍蝇，这种基因被命名为无尾基因。在脊椎动物中，无尾基因在神经干细胞发育中起作用。与无尾虫一样，nhr-67基因的产物有望通过调节各种细胞中其他基因的转录来控制动物的发育。秀丽隐杆线虫的子宫是由细胞-细胞信号传导过程产生的，其中锚定细胞（AC）起主要的组织作用。将交流电信号传递给6个相邻的子宫细胞（π细胞），诱导其分裂分化为12个特化的子宫细胞。当子宫细胞的发育由于nhr-67基因的突变而中断时，动物就不能产卵。Wightman实验室正在使用分子遗传学、光镜和电子显微镜方法来评估nhr-67在子宫发育中的功能。本研究计划有三个主要的具体目的：1)确定pi谱系的性质和nhr-67突变引起的子宫缺陷；2)确定nhr-67基因在哪些细胞中起作用；3)了解nhr-67基因产物在AC - pi细胞信号通路中的功能。这个项目也服务于主要的教育目标。大部分拟议的工作都是在穆伦伯格学院进行的，这是一所没有研究生的文理学院。本科生和优秀高中生在三名高级人员的指导下进行了大部分研究。学生参与实验设计、执行、解释和传播的各个方面。因此，该项目有助于培养当地的“科学文化”，为穆伦伯格学院的本科科学教育注入活力。

RUI: Genetic Analysis of the C. elegans tailless Gene nhr-67The Wightman lab is studying the molecular mechanism of uterus development in the nematode worm, Caenorhabditis elegans. The study provides a model for understanding how organs develop in all animal species. Evolutionary changes in animal morphology are caused in large part by modifications in the underlying developmental programs of organisms. The functions of key developmental regulatory genes have been conserved over many phyla, yet the same pathways have been modified to different purposes in different organisms. The Wightman lab is studying how the function of an evolutionarily- conserved gene, nhr-67, has been adopted to a new function in uterus organogenesis in the nematode C. elegans. There are equivalent genes in most, if not all, animals, including humans and flies, where the gene is named tailless. In vertebrates, the tailless gene functions in neural stem cell development. Like tailless, the product of the nhr-67 gene is expected to control animal development by regulating the transcription of other genes in various cells. The uterus of C. elegans is created by a cell-cell signaling process in which the anchor cell (AC) plays a primary organizing function. The AC signals to six adjacent uterine cells (pi cells) to induce their division and differentiation into twelve specialized uterine cells. When development of the uterine cells is disrupted due to mutations in the nhr-67 gene, animals are unable to lay eggs. The Wightman lab is using molecular genetic, and both light and electron microscopic approaches to assess the nature of nhr-67 function in uterus development. This research program has three primary specific aims: 1) Determine the nature of pi lineage and uterine defects due to mutations in nhr-67, 2) Determine in which cells the nhr-67 gene functions, and 3) Understand the function of the nhr-67 gene product in the AC to pi cell signaling pathway. This project also serves major educational goals. Most of the proposed work is being performed at Muhlenberg College, a liberal arts institution that has no graduate students. Undergraduates and exceptional high school students, supervised by three senior personnel, perform most of the research. Students participate in all aspects of experimental design, execution, interpretation, and dissemination. Therefore, this project helps foster a local "culture of science" that enlivens undergraduate science education at Muhlenberg College.