IOS Proposal: Collaborative Research: RUI: The role of RNA-binding proteins in C. elegans dendrite morphogenesis

IOS 提案：合作研究：RUI：RNA 结合蛋白在秀丽隐杆线虫树突形态发生中的作用

• 批准号: 1257703
• 负责人: Darrell Killian
• 金额: $ 37.47万
• 依托单位: Colorado College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-06-01 至 2017-10-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1257703&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: IOS; Proposal; Collaborative; Research; RUI

Nerve cells, or neurons, are specialized cells of the nervous system that receive and send signals to coordinate animal behavior. Dendrites are the highly branched structures of neurons that are used to gather sensory information from other cells or the environment. These dendritic branches are critical for the function of the nervous system because a loss of dendrites is associated with deficits in learning, motor control, and sensory perception. The goal of this project is to identify the molecular mechanisms that regulate dendrite development. Dendrite development will be investigated in the simple genetic model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, a microscopic round worm because it is completely transparent, enabling the observation of dendrite development in living animals, and because it is high amenable to genetic manipulation. The research will focus on a genetic analysis of a class of proteins called RNA-binding proteins, which are hypothesized to be important in dendrite development because they regulate genetic messages known as messenger RNAs. This research project is expected to identify several specific RNA-binding proteins, present in worms and other species including humans, which are important for regulating dendrite development. Furthermore, the research is expected to determine the molecular mechanisms for how these RNA-binding proteins regulate dendrites. This research will impact the field of developmental neuroscience because it will provide a better understanding of how the individual neurons make the connections that allow for a functional nervous system that responds to the environment and controls behavior. This project will also have an impact on student training and public awareness; Colorado College and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs will collaborate on this research project and train several undergraduates and master students, incorporate this research into undergraduate courses, and participate in community outreach programs to illustrate the importance of developmental neuroscience research.

神经细胞或神经元是神经系统的专门细胞，接收并发送信号以协调动物行为。树突是神经元的高度分支结构，用于从其他细胞或环境中收集感觉信息。这些树突分支对于神经系统的功能至关重要，因为树突的丧失与学习，运动控制和感觉知觉的缺陷有关。该项目的目的是确定调节树突发育的分子机制。将在简单的遗传模型生物Caenorhabditis秀丽隐杆线虫中研究树突的发育，这是一种微观的圆形蠕虫，因为它是完全透明的，从而使生物中的树突发育能够观察到，并且由于遗传操作很高。该研究将重点介绍一种称为RNA结合蛋白的蛋白质类别的遗传分析，这些蛋白质在树突发育中被认为很重要，因为它们调节了称为Messenger RNA的遗传信息。预计该研究项目将确定几种特定的RNA结合蛋白，这些蛋白质存在于蠕虫和其他物种（包括人类）中，这对于调节树突发育很重要。此外，该研究有望确定这些RNA结合蛋白如何调节树突的分子机制。这项研究将影响发育神经科学领域，因为它将更好地理解单个神经元如何建立允许对环境响应并控制行为的功能性神经系统的联系。该项目还将对学生培训和公众意识产生影响；科罗拉多学院和科罗拉多斯普林斯大学将在该研究项目中进行合作，并培训几名本科生和硕士学生，将这项研究纳入本科课程中，并参与社区外展计划，以说明发展神经科学研究的重要性。