Investigating the Contribution of Membrane Trafficking to Cell Division

智力在胚胎发育过程中，组织和器官中细胞的特性是由一系列不对称分裂决定的。细胞的不对称性由两种机制控制：细胞极化和胞质分裂。这些事件中的错误往往会导致细胞增殖和生长的变化。质膜和底层细胞皮质在细胞极性和胞质分裂中起着重要作用，但人们对其在发育过程中如何调节和维持知之甚少。为了解决这个问题，该项目将重点放在蛋白质动力素上，它在这两个事件中都起着至关重要的作用。据推测，Dynamin通过其在内吞作用和肌动蛋白动力学中的作用，影响细胞极性，促进细胞质分裂机制的时间和空间控制。这个项目将采用跨学科的策略，结合遗传学、细胞和分子生物学以及高分辨率的活体显微镜技术来揭示动力素的作用。该项目将侧重于线虫的早期分部。BROADER IMPACTS本提案中概述的工作将用于许多少数群体的外展机会和科学艺术展。私家侦探Ahna Skop博士在地方、州和国家层面接触少数群体方面拥有丰富的经验。通过她在新墨西哥州立大学的SACNAS、AISES和MARC项目的持续参与，她为威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校的少数族裔研究生招生做出了非常积极的贡献。P.I.S致力于增加和留住STEM领域的少数族裔、本科生和研究生是她的首要任务，她的使命之一是让每个种族和群体都能接触到科学，并欢迎这些学生获得任何她得到的机会。此外，P.I.还继续在国内和国际范围内策划各种科学艺术展，这本质上是促进科学之美，并为公众提供科学研究的机会。

INTELLECTUAL MERITDuring embryonic development, the identity of cells in tissues and organs is determined by a series of asymmetric divisions. Cell asymmetry is controlled by two mechanisms: cell polarity and cytokinesis. Errors in these events often lead to changes in cell proliferation and growth. The plasma membrane and underlying cell cortex play an important role in cell polarity and cytokinesis, yet very little is known about how it is regulated and maintained during development. To address this issue, the project is focused on the protein dynamin, which has an essential role in both of these events. It is hypothesized that dynamin influences cell polarity and facilitates the temporal and spatial control of the cytokinesis machinery through its role in endocytosis and actin dynamics. This project will employ an interdisciplinary strategy to reveal the role of the dynamin using a combination of genetics, cell and molecular biology and high-resolution, in vivo microscopy techniques. The project will focus on the early divisions of the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans.BROADER IMPACTSThe work outlined in this proposal will be used in numerous minority outreach opportunities and scientific art shows. The P.I., Dr. Ahna Skop has extensive experience with outreach to minority groups at the local, state and national levels. Through her consistent involvement in the SACNAS, AISES and MARC programs at New Mexico State University, she has contributed to a very positive trend in minority graduate student enrollment on the UW-Madison campus. The P.I.'s dedication to increasing and retaining minority, undergraduate and graduate students in the STEM fields is a priority, and part of her mission is to make science accessible to every race and group and welcome these students any chance she gets. In addition, the P.I. has continued to pursue the curation of various scientific art shows nationally and internationally, which inherently promote the beauty of science and provide public access to scientific research.