Isolation and molecular characterisation of primary cilia from neural stem cells

能够退出细胞周期并经历静止是保护遗传信息和维持成体干细胞功能的关键。因此，了解调控干细胞静止的分子和细胞机制是该领域的一个基本问题。在此背景下，初级纤毛，干细胞表面的细胞器，由于其在信号转导和细胞周期进程调节中的重要作用而受到特别关注。本研究项目的主要目的是从神经干细胞(NSCs)中提纯并充分鉴定原生纤毛中的信号成分。为此，我们将利用机械、化学和遗传方法从神经前体细胞中分离和标记初级纤毛，并使用流式细胞仪从神经干细胞的细胞体中纯化初级纤毛。确定神经干细胞初级纤毛的分子组成将为分析纤毛的功能和多样性提供新的工具。这也可能具有临床意义，因为它将为调节神经干细胞静止的分子机制提供新的见解，这些分子机制对于释放神经干细胞的再生潜力至关重要。

The ability to exit the cell cycle and undergo quiescence is key to protect the genetic information and maintain the function of adult stem cells. Therefore, the understanding of molecular and cel-lular mechanisms underlying the regulation of stem cell quiescence is a fundamental issue in the field. In this context, primary cilia, organelles on the surface of stem cells, are of special interest due to their essential role in signal transduction and in the regulation of cell cycle progression. The main aim of the current research project is to purify and fully characterize signalling components in primary cilia from neural stem cells (NSCs). To this end we will take advantage of mechanical, chemical and genetic approaches to detach and label primary cilia from neural precursors and purify primary cilia from the cell body of NSCs using flow cytometry. Defining the molecular composition of primary cilia in NSCs will provide new tools for the analysis of cilia function and diversity. It may also have clinical relevance, as it will provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of NSC quiescence essential to release their regenerative potential.