Molecular Mechanisms in the Formation of Multipotent Cells

多能细胞形成的分子机制

• 批准号: 1120972
• 负责人: Gary Wessel
• 金额: $ 48万
• 依托单位: Brown University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-08-15 至 2014-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1120972&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Molecular; Mechanisms; Formation; Multipotent; Cells

The reproductive potential of an adult depends on the embryo forming specialized stem cells, called primordial germ cells. They are the only cells of the body that are able to develop into the eggs or sperm of the adult. If this mechanism fails, or if those cells are lost, the adult will not be able to make eggs or sperm, and will be reproductively sterile. The process of developing these important primordial germ cells is not understood, but they are a type of stem cells with the ultimate in developmental capability. These investigators are using a simple animal as a model to explore how the process of primordial germ cell formation works. They are using echinoderms, i.e. sea urchins and sea stars, as a model to explore this mechanism with an understanding that they will reveal general and fundamental principles of this process. Embryos from these animals are easily manipulated, they develop outside of the adult, and advanced genomic resources are available. Echinoderms are also closely related to vertebrates, so these results will have broad ramifications for animals in which this process is difficult to study.The research support will also have a significant impact beyond the bench as our lab has an aggressive outreach program. We are regular hosts to URM faculty and students, Professor Wessel serves as a scientific advisor to several preK-12 schools, and has involved a variety of students in the lab in observation, hands-on research, authorship, and creative learning. Overall, our outreach activities over the past 3 years have involved directly over 300 citizens, and benefit both the members of the lab and society, hopefully changing us all for a healthy science outlook in the future.

成年人的生殖潜力取决于胚胎形成专门的干细胞，称为原始生殖细胞。它们是唯一能够发育成卵子或精子的细胞。如果这种机制失败，或者如果这些细胞丢失，成年人将无法制造卵子或精子，并且将无法繁殖。发育这些重要的原始生殖细胞的过程尚不清楚，但它们是一种具有最终发育能力的干细胞。这些研究人员正在使用一种简单的动物作为模型来探索原始生殖细胞形成过程的工作原理。他们正在使用棘皮动物，即海胆和海星，作为探索这一机制的模型，并了解他们将揭示这一过程的一般和基本原则。这些动物的胚胎很容易操作，它们在成年人之外发育，并且可以获得先进的基因组资源。棘皮动物也与脊椎动物密切相关，因此这些结果将对难以研究这一过程的动物产生广泛的影响。研究支持也将产生重大影响，因为我们的实验室有一个积极的推广计划。我们是URM教师和学生的定期主办人，Wessel教授担任几个preK-12学校的科学顾问，并在实验室中参与了各种学生的观察，动手研究，作者和创造性学习。总的来说，我们在过去三年的外展活动直接涉及300多名公民，并使实验室成员和社会受益，希望改变我们所有人的健康科学观在未来。