Investigating the Contribution of Membrane Trafficking to Cell Division

在胚胎发育期间，组织和器官中细胞的身份是由一系列不对称分裂决定的。细胞不对称由两种机制控制：细胞极性和细胞分裂。这些事件中的错误常常导致细胞增殖和生长的变化。质膜和下层细胞皮层在细胞极性和细胞质分裂中起重要作用，但在发育过程中如何调节和维持却知之甚少。为了解决这个问题，该项目将重点放在蛋白质动力蛋白上，它在这两个事件中都起着至关重要的作用。据推测，动力蛋白影响细胞极性，并通过其在内吞作用和肌动蛋白动力学中的作用促进细胞分裂机制的时空控制。该项目将采用跨学科策略，结合遗传学、细胞和分子生物学以及高分辨率的活体显微镜技术来揭示动力蛋白的作用。该项目将重点研究秀丽隐杆线虫（Caenorhabditis elegans）的早期分化。更广泛的影响本提案中概述的工作将用于众多少数民族外展机会和科学艺术展览。私家侦探阿希纳·斯科普博士在地方、州和国家层面与少数群体接触方面有着丰富的经验。通过持续参与新墨西哥州立大学的SACNAS、AISES和MARC项目，她为威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校少数族裔研究生招生的积极趋势做出了贡献。侦探她致力于增加和留住STEM领域的少数族裔、本科生和研究生，这是她的首要任务，她的部分使命是让每个种族和群体都能接触到科学，并欢迎这些学生。此外，P.I.继续在国内和国际上策划各种科学艺术展览，这些展览本质上促进了科学之美，并为公众提供了科学研究的机会。

INTELLECTUAL MERITDuring embryonic development, the identity of cells in tissues and organs is determined by a series of asymmetric divisions. Cell asymmetry is controlled by two mechanisms: cell polarity and cytokinesis. Errors in these events often lead to changes in cell proliferation and growth. The plasma membrane and underlying cell cortex play an important role in cell polarity and cytokinesis, yet very little is known about how it is regulated and maintained during development. To address this issue, the project is focused on the protein dynamin, which has an essential role in both of these events. It is hypothesized that dynamin influences cell polarity and facilitates the temporal and spatial control of the cytokinesis machinery through its role in endocytosis and actin dynamics. This project will employ an interdisciplinary strategy to reveal the role of the dynamin using a combination of genetics, cell and molecular biology and high-resolution, in vivo microscopy techniques. The project will focus on the early divisions of the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans.BROADER IMPACTSThe work outlined in this proposal will be used in numerous minority outreach opportunities and scientific art shows. The P.I., Dr. Ahna Skop has extensive experience with outreach to minority groups at the local, state and national levels. Through her consistent involvement in the SACNAS, AISES and MARC programs at New Mexico State University, she has contributed to a very positive trend in minority graduate student enrollment on the UW-Madison campus. The P.I.'s dedication to increasing and retaining minority, undergraduate and graduate students in the STEM fields is a priority, and part of her mission is to make science accessible to every race and group and welcome these students any chance she gets. In addition, the P.I. has continued to pursue the curation of various scientific art shows nationally and internationally, which inherently promote the beauty of science and provide public access to scientific research.