SGER- Role of structural RNA in the organization of cellular cytoskeleton

在所有细胞生物中，包含在DNA（染色体）中的遗传信息被复制成信使RNA (mRNA)，然后信使RNA作为将遗传密码翻译成蛋白质的模板。因此，mRNA的主要功能是作为蛋白质合成的模板。最近，申请人在青蛙（Xenopus laevis）生殖细胞（卵母细胞）中发现了一种新的vegt mRNA结构功能。研究发现，VegT mRNA在维持细胞角蛋白骨架的完整性方面也有作用。实验中从卵母细胞中去除这种mRNA会导致细胞骨架的破坏，并导致胚胎的异常发育。这些发现表明，mRNA除了启动蛋白质合成外，在细胞骨架的组织中还具有结构功能。申请人将使用诱变和x射线显微镜/断层扫描成像技术绘制VegT mRNA上的区域，这些区域是维持细胞骨架结构完整性所必需的。x射线显微镜/断层扫描技术允许比光学显微镜更好的分辨率，并且不受传统电子显微镜遇到的伪影的影响。这一关于mRNA在维持细胞骨架结构完整性中的作用的概念上的新发现建立了一个新的范式，并将为RNA功能的研究开辟新的领域。高中生、本科生、研究生和博士后的参与，重点是少数民族学生的参与，将确保这些新的科学概念和方法将在学徒中传播。

In all cellular organisms the genetic information contained in DNA (chromosomes) is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA), which then serves as a template for translation of the genetic code into protein. Thus, the primary function of mRNA is to serve as a template for protein synthesis. Recently, the applicant discovered a novel structural function of the Veg T mRNA in frog (Xenopus laevis) germ cells (oocytes). It was found that VegT mRNA also has a role in maintaining the integrity of the cytokeratin cytoskeleton of the cell. Experimental removal of this mRNA from oocytes results in the disruption of the cytoskeleton and leads to the abnormal development of embryos. These findings suggest that mRNA has, in addition to initiating protein synthesis, a structural function in the organization of the cellular cytoskeleton. The applicant will map the regions on the VegT mRNA, which are required for maintaining structural integrity of the cytoskeleton by using mutagenesis and X-ray microscopy/tomography imaging techniques. X-ray microscopy/tomography techniques allow much better resolution than light microscopy, and are not subject to the artifacts encountered with conventional electron microscopy. This conceptually novel discovery of a role for mRNA in maintaining the structural integrity of the cellular cytoskeleton establishes a new paradigm, and should open new frontiers in the study of RNA function. The involvement of high school, undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in this project, with the focus on the involvement of minority students, will ensure that these novel scientific concepts and methodologies will be disseminated among apprentices.