Protein Methylation and Flagellar Stability

智力优势：人体内几乎所有的活细胞都含有被称为初级纤毛的鞭状附属物。这些结构作为蜂窝天线，感知外部环境，检测信号，并将这些信息传输到细胞核，然后细胞核根据收到的信号做出适当的反应。本课题以单细胞绿藻衣藻为模型系统，研究纤毛的组装和功能。衣藻的两个鞭毛几乎在所有方面都与人类的初级纤毛相似。细胞在每一轮细胞分裂中组装和分解纤毛(和鞭毛)。不能分解纤毛的细胞不能正常分裂，不能形成纤毛的细胞不能正确感知环境。这个项目旨在了解在每个细胞分裂之前控制纤毛分解过程的重要因素。更广泛的影响：该项目将为不同层次的学生提供几个教育机会：(A)本科生将参与原创研究，这一活动与数据显示，本科生的研究经历增加了学习并培养了参与者更深层次的承诺。除了获得强劲的增长和发展利益外，学生还可以更好地了解他们面临的职业选择。(B)一名研究生将参加他/她的论文研究，以获得博士学位。(C)来自哈特福德(弗吉尼亚)高中的高级高中生物学学生将参观实验室，接触到这些实验和用来观察带有纤毛的细胞的显微技术。通过与达特茅斯外展办公室的合作，将通过一系列称为“科学咖啡馆”的非正式活动向当地社区介绍这一项目。为了广泛传播这一项目的相关调查结果，达特茅斯公共事务办公室将酌情向新闻媒体传播新的调查结果和重要出版物。

Intellectual Merit: Almost all living cells in the human body contain whip-like appendages called primary cilia. These structures serve as cellular antennas that sense the external environment, detect signals, and transmit this information to the cell nucleus, which then responds appropriately according to the signals it receives. This project uses the single celled green alga Chlamydomonas as the model system to study how cilia are assembled and function. The two flagella of Chlamydomonas are analogous in almost all respects to primary cilia in humans. Cells assemble and disassemble their cilia (and flagella) during each round of cell division. Cells that are unable to disassemble their cilia cannot divide properly, and cells that cannot construct cilia cannot sense the environment properly. This project is directed at understanding the factors that are important in controlling the process of ciliary disassembly that occurs prior to each cell division. Broader Impact: This project will provide several educational opportunities for students at different levels: (a) Undergraduate students will become involved in original research, an activity that is consistent with data showing that undergraduate research experiences increase learning and foster deeper commitment by the participants. In addition to deriving strong growth and development benefits, students gain a much greater understanding of the career options open to them. (b) A graduate student will participate as part of his/her thesis research leading to the Ph. D. (c) Advanced high school biology students from Hartford (VT) High School will visit the lab and be exposed to these experiments and the microscopic techniques used to observe cells with cilia. Through collaboration with Dartmouth's Office of Outreach, this project will be described to the local communities through a series of informal events called "science cafes". To achieve broad dissemination of relevant findings from this project Dartmouth's Office of Public Affairs will communicate new findings and significant publications to the news media as appropriate.