Genetic Analysis of Neuronal Polarity in C.elegans

描述（由申请人提供）：神经元具有结构和功能 不同的突起轴突和树突蛋白质分离成 这些区室对于神经元的正常功能是必不可少的。 尽管这一过程至关重要，但人们对它是如何发生的知之甚少。 神经元变得极化。该提案旨在使用以下方法来研究这一过程 C. elegans遗传学分子和表型驱动的分析都将是 进行。对于前者，候选基因将被测试其在以下方面的作用： 神经元极性对于后者，将进行遗传筛查， 识别该过程的新组件。除了提供洞察力之外， 特别是神经元极性，这些实验可能会导致更大的 了解细胞如何极化。因此，这项工作可以 其影响远远超出了神经生物学的范围， 癌症研究和免疫学。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Neurons have structurally and functionally distinct processes, the axon and the dendrite. The segregation of proteins into these compartments is essential for the normal functioning of the neuron. Despite the fundamental importance of this process, little is known about how neurons become polarized. This proposal seeks to investigate this process using C. elegans genetics. Both molecular and phenotype-driven analyses will be undertaken. For the former, candidate genes will be tested for their role in neuronal polarity. For the latter, a genetic screen will be undertaken to identify novel components of this process. In addition to providing insight into neuronal polarity in particular, these experiments could lead to a greater understanding of how cells become polarized in general. Thus this work could have implications far beyond the scope of neurobiology, into areas such as cancer research and immunology.