THE DROSOPHILA DORSAL AIR SACS, A MODEL SYSTEM FOR LUNG DEVELOPMENT

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究的目的是了解果蝇背气囊（DAS）的诱导、调节和模式发育和形态发生的过程。我们的工作已经表明，Bnl-FGF诱导这种大的、复杂的和多叶的气管器官，其以类似于脊椎动物肺的方式起作用。这个器官为成年苍蝇通气，并为其飞行肌肉提供氧气。它的发展提供了一个强大的系统来研究导致器官诱导，生长和模式化的途径。建议的具体目标是：（1）获得DAS发育和形态的详细描述;（2）鉴定和分析DAS中不同阶段和不同位置表达的基因;（3）鉴定和表征DAS发育缺陷的突变体。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this research is to understand the processes that induce, regulate and pattern development and morphogenesis of the Drosophila dorsal air sacs (DAS). Our work has shown that Bnl-FGF induces this large, complex and multi-lobed tracheal organ which functions in ways that are analogous to the vertebrate lung. This organ ventilates the adult fly and supplies oxygen to its flight muscles. Its development offers a powerful system to study the pathways that lead to organ induction, growth and patterning. Specific aims are proposed to: (1) gain a detailed description of the development and morphology of the DAS; (2) identify and analyze genes expressed at various stages and at different locations in the DAS; and (3) identify and characterize mutants defective in DAS development.