In Drosophila, a specialized germ plasm forms at the posterior pole of the oocyte during oogenesis, and is required for the subsequent determination of the germ cells. Genetic analysis has revealed ten genes necessary for germ cell determination. These genes also are needed for formation of the abdomen, because in the absence of functional gene product, the posterior morphogenetic signal (Nanos) does not localize at the posterior pole. This proposal is primarily concerned with oskar, which plays a central role in the posterior determination pathway. The activity of a variety of genes normally ensures that oskar RNA and protein localizes to the posterior pole; this is critical because oscar protein dictates subsequent steps in germ plasm assembly. The laboratory of the principal investigator has demonstrated not only that oskar normally acts as the dose limiting factor for pole plasm assembly, but that ectopic localization of oskar RNA at the anterior of the oocyte is sufficient to stimulate the formation of an additional, mirror image abdomen and the formation of functional pole cells (germ line precursors) at the anterior of the resulting embryo.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HD027549-07
Application #
2403226
Study Section
Genetics Study Section (GEN)
Project Start
1991-02-01
Project End
2000-05-31
Budget Start
1997-06-01
Budget End
1998-05-31
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
New York University
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10016
Gilboa, Lilach; Forbes, Alexandria; Tazuke, Salli I et al. (2003) Germ line stem cell differentiation in Drosophila requires gap junctions and proceeds via an intermediate state. Development 130:6625-34
McCathren, R B; Yoder, P J; Warren, S F (1999) The relationship between prelinguistic vocalization and later expressive vocabulary in young children with developmental delay. J Speech Lang Hear Res 42:915-24
Ephrussi, A; Dickinson, L K; Lehmann, R (1991) Oskar organizes the germ plasm and directs localization of the posterior determinant nanos. Cell 66:37-50