Novel insights from a divergent form of germ plasm

核糖核蛋白(Rnps)是许多生物过程和细胞中的关键元素。 类型。长期以来，黑腹果蝇的极地颗粒一直被用作模型 用于理解RNPs功能的系统。极地颗粒很小， 指定果蝇原始生殖细胞的异质RNPs。在这项提案中，我们 将使用我们的黄蜂模型系统Nasonia来构建果蝇知识 玻璃球。纳索尼亚相当于极地颗粒的形式是一个大的， 球形的固体RNP称为卵小体。这与极地颗粒形成对比，极地颗粒 以定位于胚胎后极的许多小颗粒的形式出现。这个 纳索尼亚卵子在胚胎的后半部分经历了戏剧性的迁移， 这一过程在果蝇中是没有对应的。最后，卵子被挤出 一个非常大的芽，它将分裂并产生极细胞。这是在斯特朗 与果蝇的极细胞形成形成对比，果蝇的极细胞形成是由细胞核迁移到 后皮质，单个细胞由小的芽单独形成。的目标是 这项建议是为了了解卵泡的分子和机械性质。 这是它与极地在形态和功能上不同的基础 颗粒。我们将表征卵泡的蛋白质组成，详细说明如何 翻译在卵体内受到调节，并揭示了mRNAs和蛋白质是如何 分布在卵子的各处。然后我们将确定蛋白质之间的相互作用 这对卵小体的独特结构和功能可能很重要。最后，我们 将采取深入的方法来表征新的组件的功能 卵子。在这个项目结束时，我们将有一个机械性的理解如何 卵小体的组成及其组成分子间的相互作用 产生了一种新的RNP形式。

Ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) are crucial elements in many biological processes and cell types. The polar granules of Drosophila melanogaster have long served as a model system for understanding the functions of RNPs. Polar granules are small, heterogeneous RNPs that specify the primordial germ cells in the fly. In this proposal, we will build upon the Drosophila knowledge using our wasp model system Nasonia vitripennis. The Nasonia equivalent of the polar granules is in the form of a large, spherical, solid RNP called the oosome. This is in contrast to the polar granules, which take the form of many small particles localized to the posterior pole of the embryo. The Nasonia oosome undergoes a dramatic migration within the posterior half of the embryo, a process which has not counterpart in Drosophila. Finally, the oosome is extruded in one very large bud that will divide and give rise to the pole cells. This is in strong contrast to pole cell formation in Drosophila, which is driven by the migration of nuclei to the posterior cortex, where individual cells form from small buds individually. The goal of this proposal is to understand the molecular and mechanistic properties of the oosome that are the basis for its morphological and functional differences from the polar granules. We will characterize the protein composition of the oosome, detail how translation is regulated within the oosome, and reveal how mRNAs and proteins are distributed throughout the oosome. We will then identify the interactions among proteins that may be important for the unique structure and function of the oosome. Finally, we will take in depth approaches to characterize the functions of novel components of the oosome. At the conclusion of this project, we will have a mechanistic understanding how the composition of the oosome and the interactions among the component molecules give rise to a novel form of RNP.