Genetic control of developmental timing

项目摘要/摘要 动物发育涉及对细胞分裂、细胞静止、细胞命运的精确控制 具体化、分化和形态发生。所有这些过程都由细胞控制 其组成部分和相互作用的信号和遗传调节机制 由进化塑造，以达到最大的适合度。我们研究线虫的遗传调控网络 它们负责编排幼虫发育事件的时间模式 发展，着眼于揭示确保稳健发展的原则和机制 协调整个动物的发育进程。我们将扩展我们的 以往关于microRNA通路在发育稳健性中的作用的研究 环境条件下microRNA生物发生与发育进程的耦合机制 压力。我们将继续探索microRNAs和其他因素在协调中的作用 转录和转录后调控机制对强健的时间控制 发展，特别是在高度保守的microRNA和microRNA靶标的背景下 图案。我们将研究蠕虫发展的周期性成分之间的关系-- 特别是蜕皮和幼虫滞育--对阶段识别和 细胞命运进程，目的是测试细胞分裂和细胞命运的假设 转变是在有机体层面上协调的。

Project Summary/Abstract Animal development involves the precise control of cell division, cellular quiescence, cell fate specification, differentiation, and morphogenesis. All these processes are controlled by cell signaling and genetic regulatory mechanisms whose components and interactions have been shaped by evolution for maximum fitness. We study genetic regulatory networks in C. elegans that are responsible for orchestrating temporal patterns of developmental events during larval development, with an eye on uncovering principles and mechanisms that ensure robust coordination of developmental progression throughout the animal. We will expand on our previous studies of the roles of microRNA pathways in developmental robustness to investigate mechanisms coupling microRNA biogenesis to developmental progression under conditions of stress. We will continue to explore the roles of microRNAs and other factors in coordinating transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms for robust temporal control of development, particularly in the context of deeply conserved microRNAs and microRNA target motifs. We will investigate the relationship of the periodic components of worm development -- particularly molting and larval diapause – to the progressive advancement of stage identify and cell fate progression, with the aim of testing hypotheses for how cell divisions and cell fate transitions are coordinated on the organism level.