Identification of Genes Required for Myoblast Fusion

描述(申请人提供)：细胞融合是发育和分化的许多方面所必需的。果蝇胚胎肌肉发生过程中多核细胞的形成是研究细胞融合事件所需基因的理想模型。成肌细胞融合所需的基因之一，成肌细胞城市(MBC)，是细胞骨架重组所需的保守信号通路的一部分。这项建议旨在确定果蝇成肌细胞融合在MBC信号通路中所需的新成员。 具体目的：1)确定Ced-12是否是果蝇成肌细胞融合过程中MBC相关途径的重要组成部分。2)验证融合过程需要磷脂酰丝氨酸的假设，无论有没有MBC。3)鉴定和鉴定MBC的其他结合伙伴，并确定它们是否是成肌细胞融合所必需的。 这些研究将检验候选蛋白质的参与，并确定在肌肉发生过程中细胞融合所需的新蛋白质。这些蛋白质的特性将为更好地理解肌肉融合提供一个框架，并为更好地理解细胞融合所需的分子提供一个框架。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Cell fusion is required for many aspects of development and differentiation. The formation of multinucleated cells during myogenesis in the Drosophila embryo is an ideal model to study the genes required for cell fusion events. One of the genes required for myoblast fusion, Myoblast city (MBC), is part of a conserved signaling pathway required for reorganization of the cytoskeleton. This proposal aims to identify new players required for Drosophila myoblast fusion in the MBC signaling pathway. Specific Aims: 1) To determine whether ced-12 is an essential component of the mbc-related pathway for Drosophila myoblast fusion. 2) To test the hypothesis that phosphatidylserine is required, with or without MBC, for the fusion process. 3) To identify and characterize additional binding partners of MBC and determine whether they are required for myoblast fusion. These studies will examine the involvement of candidate proteins as well as identify new proteins required for cell fusion in myogenesis. Characterization of these proteins will provide a better understanding of muscle fusion and provide a framework to better understand molecules required for cell fusion in general.