Evolution of regulatory pathways controlling stem cell proliferation

控制干细胞增殖的调控途径的进化干细胞经历自我更新并产生子代细胞，然后分化为多种细胞类型。刺代表了一个独特的、以前从未探索过的机会，可以研究植物中干细胞增殖是如何控制的。荆棘来自干细胞群体，这些干细胞不是维持干细胞的命运，而是失去增殖能力并最终分化。该项目将研究阻止荆棘中干细胞增殖的潜在基础。第一组目标集中于分析干细胞识别途径的已知组成部分，并确定这些途径是否在柑橘(甜橙)和欧洲野生稻(Gorse)的刺发育过程中被利用。第二组目标集中于使用高通量转录组分析来确定限制柑橘刺干细胞增殖所需的新基因。总而言之，这些方法应该识别在干细胞从增殖到分化的转变中至关重要的新基因和新过程。通过将控制刺中干细胞停止的过程与其他系统中控制干细胞增殖和停止的过程进行比较，可以阐明控制干细胞活性的保守和不同的途径。这些信息在比较植物干细胞调控和控制哺乳动物干细胞维持和分化的过程中也是有价值的。此外，该项目还将帮助培训少数群体和弱势群体的分子遗传学和发育生物学本科生，从而扩大代表不足的群体参与科学研究的范围。

Vivian F. IrishIOS-1020843Evolution of regulatory pathways controlling stem cell proliferationStem cells undergo self-renewal as well as producing daughter cells that go on to differentiate into multiple cell types. Thorns represent a unique and previously unexplored opportunity to examine how stem cell proliferation is controlled in plants. Thorns arise from populations of stem cells that, instead of maintaining a stem cell fate, lose their proliferative capacity and terminally differentiate. This project will examine the underlying basis for the arrest of stem cell proliferation in thorns. The first set of goals focus on analyzing known components of the stem cell identity pathway, and determining if these pathways have been utilized during thorn development in Citrus sinensis (sweet orange) and Ulex europaeus (gorse). The second set of goals focus on using high throughput transcriptome analyses to identify novel genes required for restricting stem cell proliferation in Citrus sinensis thorns. Together, these approaches should identify new genes and processes that are critical in the transition from stem cell proliferation to differentiation. By comparing the processes controlling stem cell arrest in thorns to those regulating stem cell proliferation and arrest in other systems, the conserved, as well as divergent, pathways that control stem cell activity can be elucidated. This information will also be valuable in comparing plant stem cell regulation with the processes controlling mammalian stem cell maintenance and differentiation. In addition, this project will serve to train minority and disadvantaged undergraduate students in molecular genetics and developmental biology, thus broadening the participation of underrepresented groups in scientific research.