CHEMOTAXIS IN DICTYOSTELIUM DISCOIDEUM: AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH

描述(申请人提供)：趋化性是细胞在化学梯度中的定向运动。它在许多重要的生物学过程中发挥着重要作用，包括胚胎学、伤口愈合和癌症转移。本项目的主要目的是利用模式系统盘基网柄菌来扩展我们对趋化性的定量研究。具体地说，我们将通过将其分为三个具有不同时间尺度的项目来研究趋化过程： 1)方向性感觉：细胞暴露于外界环境后的第一反应(0-10 S) 化学吸引剂梯度， 2)极性：随后(10-45 S)细胞骨架重组，导致不对称(极化)细胞，以及 3)运动：细胞运动的最终(&gt；45 S)过程。 对于所有的项目，我们将结合使用微流控装置的定量实验和建模方法来进一步深入了解真核细胞趋化的机制。 公共卫生相关性： 我们研究的目标是更好地了解真核细胞的趋化性。 这一领域的进展将有助于诊断和治疗涉及细胞迁移的医学问题。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Chemotaxis is the directed movement of cells in a chemical gradient. It plays a major role in a large number of important biological processes, including embryology; wound healing, and cancer metastasis. The main aim of this Program Project is to extend our quantitative studies of chemotaxis using the model system Dictyostelium discoideum. Specifically, we will investigate the chemotactic process by dividing it into three projects with distinct timescales: 1) Directional sensing: the first response (0-10 s) of a cell following the exposure to an external Chemoattractant gradient, 2) Polarity: the subsequent (10-45 s) reorganization of the cytoskeleton, leading to an asymmetric (polarized) cell, and 3) Motility: the eventual (> 45 s) process of cell movement. For all projects, we will use a combination of quantitative experiments, aided by the use of microfluidic devices, and modeling approaches to further our insights into the mechanisms of eukaryotic chemotaxis. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The goal of our research is to better understand chemotaxis of eukaryotic cells. Advances in this field will benefit diagnosis and treatment of medical problems involving cell migration.