Sox Protein COG-2 Function in C. Elegans Organogenesis

[131287]汉娜-罗斯汉娜-罗斯实验室的长期目标是阐明指导器官发生的分子机制。本研究的重点是详细研究cog-2基因和特定细胞-细胞融合在促进秀丽隐杆线虫子宫和外阴正常附着中的作用。齿轮吗?2编码Sox （sry相关的HMG盒）家族转录因子，该转录因子在子宫的特定细胞称为子宫缝细胞（utse）中表达。正常情况下，受精卵与另一个性腺细胞进行发育程序细胞融合，称为锚定细胞。在器官发生的后期，这种细胞-细胞融合促进子宫和外阴之间开放通道的形成。在缺乏cog-2功能的情况下，使用细胞的命运被诱导，但与锚细胞（AC）的融合不被执行。本研究的目的是确定COG-2是直接调节融合还是通过对使用细胞命运的影响间接影响融合，鉴定和表征参与ac - utuse融合的其他基因，并鉴定COG-2的结合伙伴。结果有望阐明COG-2发挥作用的机制。这也将揭示脊椎动物Sox蛋白的潜在调控靶点。此外，这些结果有望增加我们对两个器官之间形成适当连接的遗传程序的理解，并促进探索细胞融合机制的工具的发展。

0131287Hanna-RoseThe long-term goal of the Hanna-Rose laboratory is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that direct organogenesis. The focus of the proposed research is a detailed investigation of the role of the cog-2 gene and of a specific cell-cell fusion in promoting proper attachment of the C. elegans uterus and vulva. cog?2 encodes a Sox (SRY-related HMG box) family transcription factor that is expressed in a specific cell of the uterus called the uterine seam cell (utse). The utse normally executes a developmentally programmed cell fusion to another gonadal cell called the anchor cell. This cell-cell fusion promotes formation of an open channel between the uterus and the vulva in a late stage of organogenesis. In the absence of cog-2 function, utse cell fate is induced but fusion to the anchor cell (AC) is not executed. The aims of the proposed research are to determine whether COG-2 acts to regulate fusion directly or affects fusion indirectly through an effect on utse cell fate, to identify and characterize additional genes involved in AC-utse fusion, and to identify COG-2 binding partners. Results are expected to elucidate mechanisms whereby COG-2 functions. This will also shed light on potential regulatory targets for vertebrate Sox proteins. Furthermore, the results are expected to increase our understanding of how the formation of a proper connection between two organs is genetically programmed and to promote the development of tools for probing the mechanism of cell fusion.