Abstract

Cancer cells and germ cells share many cellular and molecule features and the link is even more striking when considering the many tumors resulting from aberrant germ cells. Moreover, many tumors require germline determinants for tumorigenesis, even those tumors from a non- germ line origin. As one of the original germline determinants identified, Vasa have been used extensively as a germline marker in many organisms. Recently though Vasa has received more widespread attention for its'presence in many human cancer cells, its'essential nature in tumor formation, its'role in multipotent cell functions, and recently, it's'function in regulation of the cell cycle. Despite its'long history,the functions and regulation of Vasa in these important and widespread roles are not yet known. This project is designed to reveal the regulatory mechanisms of Vasa that contributes to its'essential function in health and disease.

Public Health Relevance

Vasa is a classic germ line marker now receiving widespread attention for it's'role in tumor formation, its'function in development of multipotent stem cells and its'essential function in the regulation of cell division. This project is designed to reveal he regulatory mechanisms of this essential protein in fundamental cellular processes of health and disease.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01HD028152-18A1
Application #
8321115
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-EMNR-E (02))
Program Officer
Ravindranath, Neelakanta
Project Start
1991-05-01
Project End
2017-03-31
Budget Start
2012-04-01
Budget End
2013-03-31
Support Year
18
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$324,897
Indirect Cost
$119,897

  Institution

Name
Brown University
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
001785542
City
Providence
State
RI
Country
United States
Zip Code
02912

  Publications

Fresques, Tara M; Wessel, Gary M (2018) Nodal induces sequential restriction of germ cell factors during primordial germ cell specification. Development 145:
Schudrowitz, Natalie; Takagi, Satoshi; Wessel, Gary M et al. (2017) Germline factor DDX4 functions in blood-derived cancer cell phenotypes. Cancer Sci 108:1612-1619
Oulhen, Nathalie; Swartz, S Zachary; Laird, Jessica et al. (2017) Transient translational quiescence in primordial germ cells. Development 144:1201-1210
Shevidi, Saba; Uchida, Alicia; Schudrowitz, Natalie et al. (2017) Single nucleotide editing without DNA cleavage using CRISPR/Cas9-deaminase in the sea urchin embryo. Dev Dyn 246:1036-1046
Brayboy, Lynae M; Oulhen, Nathalie; Long, Sokunvichet et al. (2017) Multidrug resistance transporter-1 and breast cancer resistance protein protect against ovarian toxicity, and are essential in ovarian physiology. Reprod Toxicol 69:121-131
Poon, Jessica; Wessel, Gary M; Yajima, Mamiko (2016) An unregulated regulator: Vasa expression in the development of somatic cells and in tumorigenesis. Dev Biol 415:24-32
Zazueta-Novoa, Vanesa; Onorato, Thomas M; Reyes, Gerardo et al. (2016) Complexity of Yolk Proteins and Their Dynamics in the Sea Star Patiria miniata. Biol Bull 230:209-19
Oulhen, Nathalie; Wessel, Gary M (2016) Differential Nanos 2 protein stability results in selective germ cell accumulation in the sea urchin. Dev Biol 418:146-156
Fresques, Tara; Swartz, Steven Zachary; Juliano, Celina et al. (2016) The diversity of nanos expression in echinoderm embryos supports different mechanisms in germ cell specification. Evol Dev 18:267-78
Brayboy, L M; Wessel, G M (2016) The double-edged sword of the mammalian oocyte--advantages, drawbacks and approaches for basic and clinical analysis at the single cell level. Mol Hum Reprod 22:200-7

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