Stem cells, defined by their unlimited or prolonged capacity for self-renewal, are essential for the development and homeostasis of multicellular organisms. Their decision between self-renewal and differentiation is governed by both cell-autonomous (intrinsic) signals and extrinsic stimuli from the surrounding microenvironment, or """"""""niche."""""""" While stem cells hold promise for regenerative therapies, their dysregulation can lead to cancer. A thorough understanding of both stem cells and their environmental control is, therefore, critical for the effective treatment of cancer and development of stem cell therapies. The long-term objective of this research proposal is to identify the cellular and molecular mechanisms used by a niche to regulate stem cells, using the well-defined C. elegans gonad as a model. To achieve this goal, germline stem cells will first be better characterized using criteria employed widely for other types of stem cells (cell cycle length and self-renewal capacity). Niche mechanisms for regulating germline stem cells will then be elucidated using a cell-specific whole-genome RNAi approach to identify all genes required in the niche for maintenance of germline stem cells.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32GM072126-03
Application #
7146713
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F05 (20))
Program Officer
Portnoy, Matthew
Project Start
2004-12-01
Project End
2007-11-30
Budget Start
2006-12-01
Budget End
2007-11-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$50,428
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Earth Sciences/Natur
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715
Byrd, Dana T; Knobel, Karla; Affeldt, Katharyn et al. (2014) A DTC niche plexus surrounds the germline stem cell pool in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS One 9:e88372
Byrd, Dana T; Kimble, Judith (2009) Scratching the niche that controls Caenorhabditis elegans germline stem cells. Semin Cell Dev Biol 20:1107-13
Crittenden, Sarah L; Leonhard, Kimberly A; Byrd, Dana T et al. (2006) Cellular analyses of the mitotic region in the Caenorhabditis elegans adult germ line. Mol Biol Cell 17:3051-61