Research Initiation Award: Marking the Drosophila eye imaginal disc landscape with positional coordinates for precursor stem cell formation

历史黑人学院和大学本科项目(HBCU-UP)研究启动奖(RIA)为HBCU的STEM教员提供支持，让他们在自己的家乡机构、NSF资助的中心、研究密集型机构或国家实验室进行研究。RIA项目有望帮助教师进一步提高研究能力和效率，改善其所在机构的研究和教学，并让本科生参与研究体验。在国家科学基金会的支持下，哈里斯·斯托州立大学(HSSU)将进行研究，以调查果蝇幼虫眼盘的发育。该项目将加强PI的研究能力以及HSSU的教和学，HSSU大约90%的本科生是非裔美国人。本科生将从项目活动提供的研究经验和培训机会中受益。该项目有可能增加从事研究的非裔美国人的数量，并支持美国在建设强大的STEM劳动力方面的努力。本研究的目的是结合遗传学、分子生物学、生物信息学和生物化学的方法，了解中线(Midline，Mid)在果蝇眼睛组织发育中作为细胞命运决定因素、模式生成器和新发现的抗凋亡因子的基本基础。其具体目标是：1)通过遗传学和免疫标记方法检测特定形态原在发育中的野生型、MID功能丧失(LOF)和MID功能获得(GOF)视盘中的表达水平和模式，以确定MID基因是否对发育中的视网膜形成模式；2)利用遗传学、分子生物学和生化方法，解决MID或Mid蛋白与Notch-Delta途径成员合作对视网膜进行模式形成的机制，并指定感觉器官前体(SOP)细胞的命运；3)利用实时定量聚合酶链式反应(RT-qPCR)、差异表达RNA测序(RNA-Seq)和microRNA-Seq等方法，鉴定早期蛹眼成像盘中Notch和细胞凋亡信号通路的中等调控基因表达。拟议目标的成功完成将有助于T-box和眼睛发育研究领域的发展。

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities-Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) Research Initiation Awards (RIAs) provide support to STEM faculty at HBCUs to pursue research at their home institution, at an NSF-funded Center, at a research-intensive institution or at a national laboratory. The RIA projects are expected to help further the faculty member's research capability and effectiveness, to improve research and teaching at his or her home institution, and to involve undergraduate students in research experiences. With support from the National Science Foundation, Harris Stowe State University (HSSU) will conduct research to investigate larval eye disc development in the fruit fly, Drosophila. The project will enhance the research capabilities of the PI as well as teaching and learning at HSSU where approximately 90% of the undergraduate students are African Americans. Undergraduate students will benefit from the research experiences and training opportunities provided by the project activities. The project has the potential to increase the number of African Americans engaged in research and support the nation's efforts in building a robust STEM workforce. The goal of the proposed study is to understand the basic underpinnings of Midline (Mid) function as a cell-fate determinant, pattern generator, and newly identified anti-apoptotic factor within developing Drosophila eye tissues using a combination of genetic, molecular biological, bioinformatics and biochemical approaches. Specific objectives are to: 1) determine whether the mid gene patterns the developing retina by using genetic and immunolabeling approaches to examine the expression level and pattern of specific morphogens in developing wild-type, mid loss-of-function (LOF) and mid-gain-of-function (GOF) eye imaginal discs; 2) resolve the mechanisms by which mid or the Mid protein collaborates with Notch-Delta pathway members to pattern the retina and to specify sensory organ precursor (SOP) cell fates utilizing genetic, molecular biological and biochemical approaches; and 3) identify mid-regulated gene expression specific to Notch and apoptotic signaling pathways within early-staged pupal eye imaginal discs using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), Differential Expression for RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq) and microRNA-Seq methodologies. The successful completion of the proposed goals will contribute to the field of T-box and eye developmental research.