" TGF-beta and sensory regulation of germline development in C. elegans".

描述（由申请人提供）：干细胞和祖细胞群体的增殖和分化平衡必须满足机体需求。然而，介导这种平衡的分子机制尚不清楚。对于生殖细胞来说，这种相关性尤其重要，因为不能产生足够的生殖细胞祖细胞是有害的

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The balance of proliferation and differentiation in stem and progenitor cell populations must meet organismal needs. However, molecular mechanisms that mediate this balance are poorly understood. For germ cells, this correlation is particularly vital since the failure to produce sufficient germ cell progenitors is deleterious for fertility. We recently discovered that the environment can influence on germ cell development via sensory modalities that act through neurons. We found that TGF? signaling influences the stem cell "proliferation versus differentiation" decision in the C. elegans germ line at a critical time when it is expanding its stem cell pool. We found that DAF- 7/TGF? exerts its effects on the germ line in response to specific sensory cues and through two specific neurons that report the favorability of the environment. We also found that the TGF? receptor pathway acts in the germline stem cell niche, not the germ line. TGF? signaling thereby couples fertility to the quality of the environment by acting through the stem cell niche. In this proposal we address the regulation of the TGF? in response to the environment, and mechanisms downstream of the TGF? receptor that ultimately transmit information to the germ line.