SGER- Role of structural RNA in the organization of cellular cytoskeleton

SGER-结构RNA在细胞骨架组织中的作用

• 批准号: 0904186
• 负责人: Malgorzata Kloc-Stepkowska
• 金额: $ 15万
• 依托单位: The Methodist Hospital Research Institute
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-04-15 至 2011-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0904186&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SGER; Role; structural; RNA; organization

In all cellular organisms the genetic information contained in DNA (chromosomes) is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA), which then serves as a template for translation of the genetic code into protein. Thus, the primary function of mRNA is to serve as a template for protein synthesis. Recently, the applicant discovered a novel structural function of the Veg T mRNA in frog (Xenopus laevis) germ cells (oocytes). It was found that VegT mRNA also has a role in maintaining the integrity of the cytokeratin cytoskeleton of the cell. Experimental removal of this mRNA from oocytes results in the disruption of the cytoskeleton and leads to the abnormal development of embryos. These findings suggest that mRNA has, in addition to initiating protein synthesis, a structural function in the organization of the cellular cytoskeleton. The applicant will map the regions on the VegT mRNA, which are required for maintaining structural integrity of the cytoskeleton by using mutagenesis and X-ray microscopy/tomography imaging techniques. X-ray microscopy/tomography techniques allow much better resolution than light microscopy, and are not subject to the artifacts encountered with conventional electron microscopy. This conceptually novel discovery of a role for mRNA in maintaining the structural integrity of the cellular cytoskeleton establishes a new paradigm, and should open new frontiers in the study of RNA function. The involvement of high school, undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in this project, with the focus on the involvement of minority students, will ensure that these novel scientific concepts and methodologies will be disseminated among apprentices.

在所有细胞生物中，DNA（染色体）中包含的遗传信息被复制到信使RNA（mRNA）中，然后作为遗传密码翻译成蛋白质的模板。因此，mRNA的主要功能是作为蛋白质合成的模板。最近，申请人在青蛙（非洲爪蟾）生殖细胞（卵母细胞）中发现了Veg T mRNA的新结构功能。发现VegT mRNA还具有维持细胞的细胞角蛋白细胞骨架的完整性的作用。从卵母细胞中实验性地去除这种mRNA会导致细胞骨架的破坏，并导致胚胎的异常发育。这些发现表明，mRNA除了启动蛋白质合成外，还具有组织细胞骨架的结构功能。申请方将使用诱变和X射线显微镜/断层扫描成像技术对VegT mRNA上的区域进行定位，这些区域是维持细胞骨架结构完整性所必需的。X射线显微镜/断层扫描技术允许比光学显微镜更好的分辨率，并且不受传统电子显微镜遇到的伪影的影响。 mRNA在维持细胞骨架结构完整性中的作用这一概念上的新发现建立了一个新的范式，并应在RNA功能的研究中开辟新的前沿。高中生、本科生、研究生和博士后研究员参与这一项目，重点是少数民族学生的参与，将确保这些新的科学概念和方法在学徒中传播。