Pattern Formation During Oogenesis in D. melanogaster

这个建议的长期目标是了解位置信息是如何在卵形成过程中在果蝇卵中建立起来的。科恩博士的研究重点是K10和C因子基因的表达和功能。他对K10的兴趣源于它在卵细胞中建立背-腹极性的已知要求；缺乏K10基因活性的雌性会产生形状异常的卵子，如果受精，就会像胚胎一样死亡。科恩博士最近的数据表明，K10只在哺乳细胞中转录，但它的转录物被选择性地、迅速地转运到卵母细胞中，在那里它们被翻译。遗传和分子方法将用于鉴定参与K10 RNA从乳母细胞转运到卵母细胞的蛋白质。Cohen博士对C因子的兴趣源于其作为乳细胞转录激活因子和卵母细胞转录抑制因子的潜在作用。哺乳细胞中rna的独家合成似乎是随后一些rna定位到卵母细胞特定区域的先决条件。为了阐明C因子函数，他将；1)确定C因子蛋白在乳细胞和卵母细胞中的分布；2)鉴定/产生C因子突变体。

The long term goal of this proposal is to understand how positional information is established in the Drosophila egg during oogenesis. Dr. Cohen is focussing on the expression and function of the K10 and C factor genes. His interest in K10 stems from its known requirement in the establishment of dorso-ventral polarity in the egg; females deficient for K10 gene activity produce abnormally shaped eggs that, if fertilized, die as embryos. Dr. Cohen's recent data indicate that K10 is transcribed exclusively in nurse cells, but that its transcripts are selectively and rapidly transported into the oocyte where they are translated. Genetic and molecular approaches will be used to identify the proteins involved in the transport of K10 RNA from nurse cells to oocytes. Dr. Cohen's interest in C factor stems from its potential role as both an activator of transcription in nurse cells and a repressor of transcription in oocytes. The exclusive synthesis of RNAs in nurse cells appears to be a prerequisite for the subsequent localization of some RNAs to specific regions of the oocyte. To elucidate C factor function he will; 1) determine the distribution of C factor protein in nurse cells and oocytes, and 2) identify/generate C factor mutants.