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

在所有细胞生物中，包含在DNA(染色体)中的遗传信息被复制到信使RNA(信使RNA)中，信使RNA然后作为将遗传密码翻译成蛋白质的模板。因此，信使核糖核酸的主要功能是作为蛋白质合成的模板。最近，申请人在非洲爪蛙(Xenopus Laevis)生殖细胞(卵母细胞)中发现了VegT基因的一个新的结构功能。研究发现，Vegt mRNA在维持细胞角蛋白细胞骨架的完整性方面也有作用。从卵母细胞中去除这种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，除了启动蛋白质合成外，信使核糖核酸还在细胞骨架的组织中具有结构功能。申请者将绘制Vegt mRNA上的区域图，这些区域是通过突变和X射线显微镜/断层成像技术保持细胞骨架结构完整性所必需的。X射线显微镜/层析成像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。这一关于信使核糖核酸在维持细胞骨架结构完整性中的作用的概念上的新发现，建立了一个新的范式，并应该在RNA功能的研究中开辟新的前沿。高中生、本科生和研究生以及博士后研究员参与这一项目，重点是少数民族学生的参与，将确保在学徒中传播这些新的科学概念和方法。

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.