NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology FY 2012

神经元极性和形态发生的转录调控神经元是高度极化的细胞，具有不同的结构和功能，主要分布在细胞的两端。它们的形状也错综复杂，在发育过程中进行了无数次运动。这些特征和过程对于神经元参与其通过神经回路传递定向信息流的功能是不可或缺的。然而，关于神经元极化和形态发生在体内是如何调节的，人们知之甚少。这项研究将利用海鞘胚胎的小尺寸和实验可及性来了解这些过程是如何调节的。海鞘，或称海鞘，是与脊椎动物关系最密切的无脊椎动物，已成为研究动物发育的模式生物。更具体地说，这项研究将重点放在将胚胎的基本蓝图基因调控网络与神经发育过程中发生的过程联系起来，如极化、迁移、轴突引导和形态发生。研究人员希望识别参与这一过程的限速基因，以及上游基因对它们的调控，而上游基因可能在脊椎动物中扮演着类似的角色。因此，总体目标是了解每个神经元是如何按照基因调控网络的要求精确塑造和形成的。这位研究员致力于在其他拉美人追求科学事业的过程中参与和激励他们。在可能的情况下，将向代表人数不足的群体的学生提供参与研究的机会。该项目将利用位于纽约等多元化城市的显眼机构的优势，通过讲座、公开论坛、讲习班、小组访问和其他激发他们对科学的兴趣的活动，接触没有直接从事科学事业的未被充分代表的少数群体。

Transcriptional regulation of neuronal polarity and morphogenesisNeurons are highly polarized cells with distinct structures and functions localized mainly to either end of the cell. They are also intricately shaped and engage in myriad movements during development. These features and processes are indispensable for the neuron to engage in its function of transmitting the directional flow of information through a neural circuit. However, little is known about how neuronal polarization and morphogenesis is regulated in vivo. This research will take advantage of the small size and experimental accessibility of sea squirt embryos to understand how these processes are regulated. Sea squirts, or ascidians, are the invertebrates most closely related to vertebrates and have emerged as a model organism for the study of animal development. More specifically, the research will focus on connecting the gene regulatory network, the basic blueprint of the embryo, to processes occurring during neural development such as polarization, migration, axon guidance, and morphogenesis. The hope is to identify rate-limiting genes involved in such processes, and their regulation by upstream genes which might be playing a similar role in vertebrates. Thus, the overall aim is to understand how each neuron is precisely shaped and formed as dictated by the gene regulatory network.The Fellow is dedicated to engaging and inspiring other Latinos as they pursue a scientific career. Students from underrepresented groups will be provided opportunities to participate in the research where possible. The project will take advantage of being located at a visible institution in a diverse city such as New York to reach out to underrepresented minorities not directly pursuing a career in science, through lectures, open forums, workshops, group visits, and other events that will stimulate their interest in science.