CAREER: Glycosylation as a primary contributor to cell fate-specific membrane capacitance

中枢神经系统中的神经干细胞形成专门的细胞(神经元、星形胶质细胞和少突胶质细胞)来构建大脑和脊髓。不幸的是，研究形成每一种特殊细胞类型的细胞是复杂的，因为它们很难相互区分。通过结合生物学和生物物理学的跨学科研究，弗拉纳根博士的团队发现了定义这些细胞的新的差异，这些差异可以用来获得每种细胞类型的纯种群，以便进一步研究。该项目将使用细胞生物学、生物物理学和分子实验来确定形成神经元、星形胶质细胞和少突胶质细胞的细胞的关键特征。这些研究将发现这些细胞之间的重要差异，并帮助科学家了解大脑和脊髓的形成是如何受到控制的。牢牢把握推动大脑和脊髓发育的机制，将有助于更好地理解中枢神经系统疾病。真正的跨学科研究，如这些，有可能揭开许多生物学奥秘。虽然跨学科研究已经被认为是重要的，但它更难实现。该项目坚定地致力于跨学科科学，拟议的活动将有助于培养未来的科学家，他们将需要接受超越学科界限的思考培训。这个项目将使多个层次的学生(K-12、本科生和研究生)接触到跨学科研究的重要性，因为将生物学与工程和生物物理学等领域相结合的研究将对生物科学未来的进步至关重要。

Neural stem cells in the central nervous system form specialized cells (neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes) to build the brain and spinal cord. Unfortunately, studying the cells that make each of these specialized cell types has been complicated because they are difficult to distinguish from one another. Through interdisciplinary studies combining biology with biophysics, Dr. Flanagan's group has found novel differences defining these cells, which can be used to obtain pure populations of each cell type for further study. The project will use cell biological, biophysical, and molecular experiments to identify key characteristics of cells forming neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. These studies will uncover important differences in these cells and help scientists understand how the formation of the brain and spinal cord is controlled. A firm grasp on the mechanisms driving the development of the brain and spinal cord will lead to a better understanding of central nervous system disorders. Truly interdisciplinary studies such as these have the potential to unlock many biological mysteries. While interdisciplinary research has been recognized as important, it has been harder to accomplish. This project is firmly committed to interdisciplinary science, and the proposed activities will contribute to preparing the scientists of tomorrow that will need to be trained to think beyond disciplinary boundaries. This project will expose students at multiple levels (K-12, undergraduate, and graduate) to the importance of interdisciplinary research since studies coupling biology with fields such as engineering and biophysics will be critical for future progress in the biological sciences.