The general goal of this project is to further our understanding of the basic mechanisms of cell polarity establishment. The formation of asymmetry within a single cell is fundamental for many different cellular processes, including the development of an organized multicellular organism from a zygote, directional transport of molecules across an epithelial cell layer, motility of a fibroblast cell and the transmission of a nerve impulse. Understanding basic mechanisms of polarity will provide the necessary background for studies of cellular processes important for humans and for studies of many organisms that impact humans both positively and negatively. The brown alga, Pelvetia compressa, provides several advantages for studies of polarity, the most important being the ability to manipulate the developmental axis of the zygote in vivo and therefore to study the process of axis establishment from its inception. These zygotes are naturally responsive to environmental cues, such as unidirectional light, and establish their development axes such that polar growth invariantly occurs from their shaded hemispheres.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32HD008470-02
Application #
2888813
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG2-REB (01))
Program Officer
Vogel, Donna L
Project Start
1999-09-01
Project End
Budget Start
1999-09-01
Budget End
2001-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1999
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Utah
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Salt Lake City
State
UT
Country
United States
Zip Code
84112
Hable, W E; Kropf, D L (2000) Sperm entry induces polarity in fucoid zygotes. Development 127:493-501