RUI: Investigating the Molecular Mechanisms of Non-muscle Myosin II Contractility

RUI：研究非肌肉肌球蛋白 II 收缩性的分子机制

• 批准号: 1716964
• 负责人: Derek Applewhite
• 金额: $ 58.94万
• 依托单位: Reed College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2017-08-01 至 2023-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1716964&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Investigating; Molecular; Mechanisms; Non

The ability of cells to change shape, a process known as morphogenesis, is a fundamental principle of life. Morphogenesis is particularly important during development, and is needed to generate the various layers of tissues that eventually comprise multi-cellular organisms. Cells change shape using a contractile system composed of a network of filaments known as the cytoskeleton, and a molecular motor that pulls on these filaments known as non-muscle myosin II. This research addresses when and where this contractile system is activated and what other potential proteins may regulate this activity. To answer these questions, the research team will use a cell-based system to study the morphogenesis that occurs during development, coupled with computational approaches that will allow for the discovery of new proteins that may play a role in regulating the cytoskeleton, non-muscle myosin II, or both. This research will uncover how this crucial process, morphogenesis, is regulated while also producing computational tools that can be broadly applied to other research questions in the community. The Broader Impact activities includes the formation of a research team composed primarily of undergraduate students who will be mentored in a highly collaborative environment that will foster critical thinking and experiential learning. The students will receive a broad, multi-disciplinary training which will help to prepare them for a variety of science-affiliated career paths. A workshop on Quantitative Biology will also be held for researchers in the NorthwestContractility generated by Non-muscle Myosin II (NMII) is a fundamental cellular process that occurs during cell migration and division. It is particularly important to morphogenesis, or the cell shape change that occurs during development. While many of the kinetic and biophysical properties of NMII are well known, the molecular cues dictating when and where it is activated are far less well understood. What is also lacking is a complete list of the molecules involved in the regulation filament dynamics and contractility. The objective of this project is to dissect the recruitment and activation of NMII through the analysis of a novel NMII regulatory molecule RN-tre. With RN-tre as an example, the project will identify additional regulators of NMII contractility during apical constriction, a critical morphogenic process. Drosophila tissue culture cells will be used to establish an in vitro apical constriction assay by taking advantage their sensitivity to RNAi depletion and confined geometry, making them ideal for high-resolution imaging techniques such as total internal reflection microscopy (TIRF). This project will also develop a computational framework for prioritizing candidate NMII regulators, enabling the testing of the predicted proteins using the apical constriction assay. Along with furthering the understanding of how the critical developmental process is regulated, this project will also produce valuable computational tools that can help answer other complex biological questions. The results of these studies will advance knowledge in the fields of cell and developmental biology by extending our understanding of the mechanisms that regulate NMII contractility.

细胞改变形状的能力，一个被称为形态发生的过程，是生命的基本原则。 形态发生在发育过程中特别重要，并且需要产生最终构成多细胞生物体的各种组织层。细胞通过收缩系统改变形状，收缩系统由称为细胞骨架的细丝网络和拉动这些细丝的分子马达组成，称为非肌肉肌球蛋白II。 这项研究解决了何时何地这种收缩系统被激活，以及其他哪些潜在的蛋白质可能调节这种活动。 为了回答这些问题，研究小组将使用基于细胞的系统来研究发育过程中发生的形态发生，再加上计算方法，这将允许发现可能在调节细胞骨架，非肌肉肌球蛋白II或两者中发挥作用的新蛋白质。 这项研究将揭示这一关键过程，形态发生，是如何调节的，同时也产生了可广泛应用于社区其他研究问题的计算工具。 更广泛影响力活动包括组建一个主要由本科生组成的研究团队，他们将在高度协作的环境中接受指导，以培养批判性思维和体验式学习。 学生将接受广泛的多学科培训，这将有助于他们为各种科学相关的职业道路做好准备。还将为西北大学的研究人员举办一个关于定量生物学的讲习班。非肌肉肌球蛋白II（NMII）产生的收缩是细胞迁移和分裂过程中发生的一个基本细胞过程。它对形态发生或发育过程中发生的细胞形状变化特别重要。虽然NMII的许多动力学和生物物理特性是众所周知的，但决定其何时何地被激活的分子线索却远未得到很好的理解。同样缺乏的是参与调节纤维动力学和收缩性的分子的完整列表。本项目的目的是通过分析一种新的NMII调节分子RN-tre来剖析NMII的募集和激活。以RN-tre为例，该项目将确定心尖收缩期间NMII收缩性的其他调节剂，这是一个关键的形态发生过程。果蝇组织培养细胞将用于建立体外顶端收缩试验，利用其对RNAi耗尽和受限几何形状的敏感性，使其成为全内反射显微镜（TIRF）等高分辨率成像技术的理想选择。该项目还将开发一个计算框架，用于优先考虑候选NMII调节剂，从而能够使用顶端收缩试验测试预测的蛋白质。 沿着进一步了解关键的发育过程是如何调节的，这个项目也将产生有价值的计算工具，可以帮助回答其他复杂的生物学问题。 这些研究的结果将通过扩展我们对调节NMII收缩性的机制的理解来推进细胞和发育生物学领域的知识。

项目成果

Network-Based Prediction of Polygenic Disease Genes Involved in Cell Motility: Extended Abstract

涉及细胞运动的多基因疾病基因的基于网络的预测：扩展摘要

• DOI: 10.1145/3233547.3233697
• 发表时间: 2018
• 期刊: and Health Informatics
• 作者: Bern, Miriam;King, Alexander;Applewhite, Derek A.;Ritz, Anna
• 通讯作者: Ritz, Anna

Network-based prediction of polygenic disease genes involved in cell motility

• DOI: 10.1186/s12859-019-2834-1
• 发表时间: 2019-06-20
• 期刊: BMC BIOINFORMATICS
• 影响因子: 3
• 作者: Bern, Miriam;King, Alexander;Ritz, Anna
• 通讯作者: Ritz, Anna

The Drosophila protein, Nausicaa, regulates lamellipodial actin dynamics in a Cortactin-dependent manner

果蝇蛋白 Nausicaa 以 Cortactin 依赖性方式调节板状肌动蛋白动力学

• DOI: 10.1242/bio.038232
• 发表时间: 2019
• 期刊: Biology Open
• 影响因子: 2.4
• 作者: O'Connell, Meghan E.;Sridharan, Divya;Driscoll, Tristan;Krishnamurthy, Ipsita;Perry, Wick G.;Applewhite, Derek A.
• 通讯作者: Applewhite, Derek A.