The Molecular Basis for Skeletal Patterning in Sea Urchins

海胆骨骼图案的分子基础

• 批准号: 1257825
• 负责人: Cynthia Bradham
• 金额: $ 55万
• 依托单位: Trustees of Boston University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-02-01 至 2019-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1257825&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Molecular; Basis; Skeletal; Patterning; Sea

This project focuses on the topic of embryonic pattern formation, which is a central aspect of embryonic development in all animals. Pattern formation relies on communication between cell types as they progressively mold each other into the organs and structures that make up the body. This problem is very difficult to pursue in vertebrate animals due to their complexity. Since developmental mechanisms are highly conserved across animals, the proposed study instead addresses the problem of how one cell type directs the patterning of another cell type using sea urchin embryos, which offer an elegant patterning process in a comparatively simple system: the larval skeleton. Prior work identified multiple conserved genes that are required for skeletal patterning in sea urchin embryos; this project will use biochemical and molecular approaches to understand how these genes work together to generate the three-dimensional skeletal pattern. The results will define a mechanism for patterning as a result of communication between cell types and tissues; because the genes involved are highly conserved, this information will likely become a paradigm for patterning in more complex animals. The study will directly involve the participation of multiple undergraduate students, integrating their classroom knowledge with hands-on laboratory experiences, as well as scientific outreach to high school students in the Boston area to promote their interest in scientific careers. Finally, this project includes training of Boston area high school teachers in the summers, including classroom and laboratory experiences, with the intent of fostering the teaching of developmental biology in the high school science classroom.

这个项目的重点是胚胎模式的形成，这是所有动物胚胎发育的一个核心方面。模式的形成依赖于细胞类型之间的交流，因为它们逐渐将彼此塑造成组成身体的器官和结构。由于脊椎动物的复杂性，这个问题很难解决。由于动物的发育机制是高度保守的，因此这项研究旨在解决一种细胞类型如何利用海胆胚胎指导另一种细胞类型的模式的问题，海胆胚胎在一个相对简单的系统中提供了一个优雅的模式过程：幼虫骨骼。先前的工作确定了海胆胚胎骨骼模式所需的多个保守基因；该项目将使用生化和分子方法来了解这些基因如何协同工作以产生三维骨骼模式。这些结果将定义一种细胞类型和组织之间交流的模式机制；因为涉及的基因是高度保守的，这些信息可能会成为更复杂动物模式的范例。该研究将直接涉及多名本科生的参与，将他们的课堂知识与动手实验室经验相结合，并向波士顿地区的高中生进行科学推广，以促进他们对科学事业的兴趣。最后，该项目包括在夏季对波士顿地区的高中教师进行培训，包括课堂和实验室经验，旨在促进高中科学课堂上的发育生物学教学。