NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology FY 2021: Identifying the functional roles of SNAI2,SOX9, and SOX10 in cranial neural crest cell specification and adhesion

这项行动资助了2020财年的NSF生物学博士后研究奖学金，扩大了生物学中代表性不足的群体的参与。该研究金支持研究员的一项研究和培训计划，该计划将增加在生物学领域代表性不足的群体的参与。该研究员提出要了解细胞如何在发育中的胚胎体内移动，以便在正确的时间到达正确的目的地。这项研究将使用模型生物来了解这些细胞的功能，因为这一过程在物种间是保守的。将被检查的特定细胞是那些形成头部和面部特征的细胞，因为这个过程中的任何微小干扰都可能导致各种出生缺陷，包括唇裂。通过了解这些细胞如何在模型生物体中移动和发挥作用，这项研究可能有助于理解和开发针对这些出生缺陷人类的新疗法。此外，该项目将扩大生物学中代表性不足的群体的参与，为他们提供机会，通过一个新颖的校园学生和博士后组织获得科学，专业和个人的支持。神经嵴（NC）细胞发育是一个高度动态的过程，由严格调控的基因调控网络（GRN）控制，该网络驱动几种转录因子的表达，这些转录因子驱动细胞命运、迁移和分化。S 0X 9和SNAI 2在上皮-间充质转化中起作用，随后是介导NC细胞迁移的S 0X 10。编码这些NC转录因子的基因在NC发育过程中表达，但对SNAI 2、SOX 9和SOX 10在调节彼此表达中的保守作用以及它们如何特异性控制NC细胞群中相关钙粘蛋白的表达知之甚少。因此，本研究提出，以确定如何三个最高表达的NC细胞指定（SNAI 2，SOX 9和SOX 10）驱动NC规范和调节NC粘附在两个互补的昆虫模型，原鸡（鸡）和鹌鹑（鹌鹑）。目的1将定义时空定位的SNAI 2，SOX 9，和SOX 10蛋白在NC的发展，并确定SOX 9，SOX 10，和SNAI 2功能扰动的影响，其后果在体内钙粘蛋白。目的二是确定鸡和鹌鹑中SOX 9、SOX 10和SNAI 2的结合伴侣，并表征SNAI 2、SOX 9和SOX 10蛋白结构域的功能。该项目将有助于在以下领域对研究员进行培训：科学写作、技术技能、指导和教学。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2020, Broadening Participation of Groups Under-represented in Biology. The Fellowship supports a research and training plan for the Fellow that will increase the participation of groups underrepresented in biology. The fellow proposes to understand how cells move throughout the developing embryo body to reach the right destination at the right time. This research will use model organisms to understand how these cells function, as this process is conserved across species. The specific cells that will be examined are those that form the head and facial features, as any minor disruptions in this process can lead to a variety of birth defects, including cleft lip. By understanding how these cells move and function in a model organism, the research can potentially contribute to the understanding and development of novel therapies for these birth defects humans. In addition, this project will broaden the participation of under-represented groups in biology by providing the opportunity for them to receive scientific, professional, and personal support through a novel on-campus student and postdoc organization. Neural crest (NC) cell development is a highly dynamic process that is controlled by a tightly regulated gene regulatory network (GRN) which drives the expression of several transcription factors that drive cell fate, migration, and differentiation. SOX9 and SNAI2 function in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, followed by SOX10 which mediates NC cell migration. The genes that code for these NC transcription factors are expressed during NC development, but little is known about the conserved roles of SNAI2, SOX9, and SOX10 in regulating the expression of each other nor how they specifically control expression of relevant cadherin proteins in the NC cell population. Therefore, this research proposes to determine how three of the most highly expressed NC cell specifiers (SNAI2, SOX9, and SOX10) drive NC specification and regulate NC adhesion in two complementary amniote models, Gallus gallus (chicken) and Coturnix japonica (quail). Aim 1 will define the spatiotemporal localization of SNAI2, SOX9, and SOX10 proteins during NC development and identify the effects of SOX9, SOX10, and SNAI2 functional perturbations and their consequences on cadherin proteins in vivo. Aim 2 will determine the binding partners of SOX9, SOX10 and SNAI2 in chick and quail and characterize SNAI2, SOX9, and SOX10 protein domain functions. This project will contribute to training of the fellow in the following areas: scientific writing, technical skills, mentoring, and teaching.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.