CELL/CELL FUSION IN CAENORHABDITIS ELEGANS

细胞间融合是生殖和形态发生的关键过程 许多多细胞生物。 然而，由于 尽管用于研究细胞融合的方法，但对细胞融合的分子机制知之甚少。 事件的基础。 在宾夕法尼亚大学约翰白色的实验室里， 威斯康星州，麦迪逊，我建议研究细胞融合的过程中， 线虫线虫 该模型系统提供了最 通过遗传分析研究融合的易处理的策略， 直接、详细的观察和操作。 从以下来源获得的信息： 这项工作应该很容易转移，凭借进化 保守的机制和基因参与，一个 了解细胞间融合和各种合胞体的形成 包括人类在内的其他物种。 两种不同的定向方法将被应用于融合的研究， C.优雅 1.对细胞膜融合过程至关重要的基因将 通过筛选在细胞融合中具有特定缺陷的突变体来分离 C.优雅 绘制和克隆这些 C. elegans遗传学将导致 鉴定在蠕虫中指导融合的分子，以及 最终导致在其他物种中鉴定同源物。 2.将在活动物中观察单个细胞融合事件， 已建立的显微镜和单细胞标记技术， C.线虫胚胎 这种方法将是详细的基础 描述细胞的结构性质和生化要求 核聚变

Cell-cell fusion is a key process in reproduction and in the morphogenesis of many multicellular organisms. However, because of the limitations of approaches used to study cell fusion, little is known about the molecular basis of the event. In the laboratory of John White at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, I propose to study the process of cell fusion in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. This model system offers the most tractable strategy for the study of fusion via genetic analysis and direct, detailed observation and manipulation. Information gained from this work should be readily transferred, by virtue of evolutionary conservation of both the mechanisms and genes involved, to an understanding of cell-cell fusion and the formation of various syncytial tissues of other species, including humans. Two separate directed approaches will be applied to the study of fusion in C. elegans. 1. Genes which are essential to the process of cell membrane fusion will be isolated by screening for mutants with specific deficits in cell fusion of the syncytial epidermis of C. elegans. Mapping and cloning of these genes by standard methods of C. elegans genetics will lead to identification of the molecules which direct fusion in the worm, and eventually lead to the identification of homologues in other species. 2. Individual cell-fusion events will be observed in live animals using established techniques for microscopy and the labeling of single cells in C. elegans embryos. This approach will be the basis for detailed descriptions of the structural nature and biochemical requirements of cell fusion.