Meiotic spindle formation in C. elegans

线虫减数分裂纺锤体的形成

• 批准号: RGPIN-2017-04132
• 负责人: Mains, Paul
• 金额: $ 2.04万
• 依托单位: University of Calgary
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=658492
• 关键词: Meiotic; spindle; formation; C.; elegans

Cells contain several types of internal protein "skeletons", termed the cytoskeletons. One type provides structural support, while another generates force, the cellular “bone” and “muscle”, respectively. We study how cells rearrange the cytoskeleton as embryos develop, where changes of the cytoskeleton can occur on the time scale of minutes so that cells and tissues can rapidly change their positions and shapes. Our approach is to find mutations in genes controlling these processes: by examining what goes wrong when the genes malfunction, we can infer the roles of the normal genes. Furthermore, we find sets of genes that together cooperate to carry out complex processes. Our work uses the nematode roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, which is a widely used “model organism” that is used by many researchers throughout the world. Because basic biological processes are very similar in all animals, we can use this simple worm to study genes in ways that are impossible in far more complex systems like humans or other mammals. We have found a series of C. elegans genes that are required to build the cytoskeletal structure that is responsible for the accurate distribution of chromosomes to daughter cells in the specialized type of division that produces eggs (meiosis). Disruption of this process in humans results in birth defects such as Down's syndrome. More specifically, we are studying how the timing of when these genes function is accomplished so that they can carry out their task and then be inactivated when they are no longer needed. Indeed, if these genes remain active after they are no longer needed, they are fatal to subsequent embryo development.

细胞含有几种类型的内部蛋白质“骨架”，称为细胞骨架。一种类型提供结构支撑，而另一种类型产生力，分别是细胞“骨骼”和“肌肉”。我们研究细胞如何在胚胎发育过程中重新排列细胞骨架，细胞骨架的变化可以在几分钟的时间尺度上发生，这样细胞和组织就可以迅速改变它们的位置和形状。我们的方法是在控制这些过程的基因中找到突变：通过检查基因发生故障时出现的问题，我们可以推断正常基因的作用。此外，我们发现了一组基因，它们共同合作进行复杂的过程。我们的工作使用线虫线虫秀丽隐杆线虫，这是一种广泛使用的“模式生物”，被世界各地的许多研究人员使用。因为所有动物的基本生物过程都非常相似，我们可以用这种简单的蠕虫来研究基因，而这在人类或其他哺乳动物等复杂得多的系统中是不可能的。我们发现了一系列的C。这些基因是建立细胞骨架结构所必需的，这种结构负责在产生卵子的特殊类型的分裂（减数分裂）中将染色体准确地分配给子细胞。人类的这一过程的中断会导致出生缺陷，如唐氏综合症。更具体地说，我们正在研究这些基因的功能是如何完成的，以便它们能够执行任务，然后在不再需要它们时被灭活。事实上，如果这些基因在不再需要后仍然保持活性，它们对随后的胚胎发育是致命的。