Molecular Controls of Asymmetric Division in C. elegans

不对称细胞分裂是后生动物实现细胞多样性的一般机制，因此， 对我们长期了解发育和遗传疾病至关重要。体细胞性腺前体细胞 （SGPs）的C.秀丽线虫经历不对称的细胞分裂，建立性腺的近端-远端轴。 作为这种不对称分裂的结果，POP-1/TCF差异定位于SGP子体中。所述Wnt 与细胞周期机制和TRA-1/GLI的组成部分一样， 转录因子然而，这些调节剂控制POP-1不对称性的机制是 未知这项提议的主要目标是了解如何不对称的分子机制， 利用C.优雅的模特为此， 将确定Wnt途径对POP-1在SGPs中不对称定位的控制。一 将检查细胞-细胞接触在调节Wnt途径中的潜在作用。最后，使用两个转发 和反向遗传学方法在C. elegans将发现新的基因， 分裂，包括TRA-1/GLI和细胞周期机制的潜在目标。

Asymmetric cell division is a general mechanism of achieving cellular diversity in metazoans and therefore vital to our long-term understanding of development and genetic disease. The somatic gonadal precursors (SGPs) of C. elegans undergo asymmetric cell division, establishing the proximal-distal axis of the gonad. As a result of this asymmetric division, POP-1/TCF is differentially localized in the SGP daughters. The Wnt pathway regulates POP-1 localization, as does components of the cell cycle machinery and the TRA-1/GLI transcription factor. However, the mechanism by which these regulators control POP-1 asymmetry is unknown. The broad goal of this proposal is to understand the molecular mechanisms of how asymmetric cell division is regulated, using the gonad of C. elegans as a model. To this end, the mechanism underlying the control of the Wnt pathway on the asymmetric localization of POP-1 in the SGPs will be determined. A potential role of cell-cell contact in regulating the Wnt pathway will be examined. Finally, use of both forward and reverse genetics methods available in C. elegans will identify new genes that function in asymmetric division, including potential targets of TRA-1/GLI and the cell cycle machinery.