Pathways regulating the germ cell microenvironment - the roles of seven-up and homothorax

生殖细胞微环境的调节途径——七上和同胸的作用

• 批准号: 0841419
• 负责人: Cordula Schulz
• 金额: $ 46.4万
• 依托单位: University of Georgia Research Foundation Inc
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-02-01 至 2014-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0841419&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Pathways; regulating; germ; cell; microenvironment

In humans and in animals, many short-lived cells, such as skin, blood, or sperm cells, are constantly reproduced from adult stem cells. The function of stem cells depends on cues provided by supporting cells, commonly referred to as ?micro-environment cells? or niche cells. However, little is known about how micro-environment cells are made and how they contact the stem cells. The investigator proposes to investigate these fundamental questions, using fruit-flies (Drosophila melanogaster) as a genetic model system. The investigator has previously implicated two genes, termed seven-up and homothorax, for proper functioning of micro-environment cells. She proposes to examine the roles of these genes and the molecular pathways in which they act, and to place them in context with known pathways to gain a mechanistic understanding of micro-environment formation. The outcome of the proposed research will therefore have a broad impact on our understanding of tissue formation, and contribute to the development of techniques for controlling stem cells in tissue differentiation.The proposed research involves training of students in genetic and molecular techniques. The investigator has a record in training students from underrepresented groups, and intends to continue this track.

在人类和动物中，许多寿命较短的细胞，如皮肤细胞、血液细胞或精子细胞，不断地从成体干细胞中繁殖出来。干细胞的功能依赖于支持细胞提供的线索，通常被称为？微环境细胞?或者说是生态位细胞。然而，人们对微环境细胞是如何形成的以及它们如何与干细胞接触知之甚少。研究者建议用果蝇（Drosophila melanogaster）作为遗传模型系统来研究这些基本问题。研究者先前暗示了两个基因，称为七喜和同源胸，为微环境细胞的正常功能。她建议研究这些基因的作用和它们起作用的分子途径，并将它们与已知途径放在一起，以获得对微环境形成的机制理解。因此，拟议研究的结果将对我们对组织形成的理解产生广泛的影响，并有助于组织分化中控制干细胞的技术的发展。拟议中的研究包括对学生进行遗传和分子技术方面的培训。调查员在培训来自代表性不足的群体的学生方面有记录，并打算继续这一轨道。