Molecular mechanisms of oocyte development in Drosophila

项目摘要/摘要 在人类和无脊椎动物中成功的配子产生和后代的存活取决于最优的 营养。然而，将配子产生与营养线索联系起来的分子机制仍然存在。 不清楚。类固醇激素，通过特定的核受体，是饮食诱导的信号，促进生殖细胞 发展。我们的长期目标是研究卵巢细胞对类固醇激素信号的反应。我们的 由本科生支持的研究小组使用遗传上易驯化的果蝇卵巢来监测生殖细胞 体内发育对饮食和荷尔蒙提示的反应。类固醇激素蜕皮激素长期以来 因其在卵母细胞发育中的作用而被公认。然而，之前的研究一直无法解开 类固醇激素的多种作用，排除了对相关分子机制的识别。我们的实验室 已经开发出新的试剂来专门分离生殖细胞自主接收蜕皮激素信号 独立于它的其他角色。在以往研究的基础上，我们的本科生和硕士生团队 学生们将测试这一假设，即蜕皮激素在生殖细胞中自主地通过受体ECR发出信号 在生殖系干细胞中促进未分化生殖细胞的命运，并在已分化的生殖细胞中促进卵泡组装 细胞。在目标1和目标2中，我们将使用复杂的遗传工具、细胞信号转导记者和转录组学，以及 新型转录增强剂用于确定未分化生殖细胞对ECR的转录反应。 在目标3中，我们将使用获得和丧失功能的方法结合活细胞成像来测试体内如何 生殖细胞中的ECR促进卵泡的形成。这些实验的结果将进一步加深我们对 类固醇信号促进卵母细胞生长和存活的分子机制，长期以来一直 没有得到充分的开发。此外，这项提议将继续支持大型、区域、农村、 公立大学，使用非常平易近人的模型系统提供高影响力的生物医学研究 在支持性培训环境中为未得到充分服务的本科生提供经验。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Successful gamete production and survival of offspring in humans and invertebrates depends on optimal nutrition. The molecular mechanisms connecting gamete production with nutritional cues, however, remain unclear. Steroid hormones, via specific nuclear receptors, are diet-induced signals that promote germ cell development. Our long-term goal is to characterize how ovarian cells respond to steroid hormone signaling. Our undergraduate-powered research team uses the genetically tractable Drosophila ovary to monitor germ cell development in vivo in response to dietary and hormonal cues. The steroid hormone ecdysone has long been recognized for its role in oocyte development. Previous studies, however, have been unable to disentangle the multitude of effects of the steroid hormone, precluding identification of relevant molecular mechanisms. Our lab has developed novel reagents to specifically isolate germ cell autonomous reception of ecdysone signaling independent of its other roles. Building on our previous studies, our team of undergraduates and Master's students will test the hypothesis that ecdysone signaling through the receptor EcR autonomously in germ cells promotes an undifferentiated germ cell fate in germline stem cells, and follicle assembly in differentiated germ cells. In Aims 1 and 2, we will use sophisticated genetic tools, cell signaling reporters, and transcriptomics, and novel transcriptional enhancers to determine the transcriptional response to EcR in undifferentiated germ cells. In Aim 3, we will use gain and loss of function approaches combined with live cell imaging to test in vivo how EcR in germ cells promotes follicle formation. Results from these experiments will further our understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which steroid signaling promotes oocyte growth and survival, which have long been under-explored. Furthermore, this proposal will continue to support infrastructure at a large, regional, rural, public university, using a very approachable model system to provide high-impact biomedical research experiences to underserved undergraduates in a supportive training environment.