Intrinsically asymmetric cell division plays an important role in development by contributing to cellular diversity and embryonic pattern formation. To understand asymmetric cell divisions it is necessary to understand the generation and maintenance of cell polarity. Elucidating mechanisms for the establishment and maintenance of cell polarity is an important goal not only because of the role of polarity in asymmetric cell division but also because cell polarity is the foundation for the proper development and function of most tissue and organ systems. We propose to continue our ongoing analysis of the generation of cell polarity during the asymmetric divisions of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. We will focus on the role of the PAR proteins in establishing cell polarity during the asymmetric divisions of the early embryo. PAR proteins are evolutionary conserved regulators of cell polarity with roles in a variety of cell types including polarized epithelial cells, neurons, oocytes and migratory cells of many types. We will carry out three related studies.
In Aim 1 we will investigate the means by which the PAR proteins become asymmetrically distributed in the one-cell embryo by determining mechanisms of regulation of contractility of the actomyosin system in response to a polarity cue.
In Aim 2 we will dissect the molecular mechanism of action of the PAR-3 protein by testing the function and localization of engineered mutant forms of the protein in living worms.
In Aim 3 we will use RNA interference in two different approaches to identify substrates of the protein kinases PAR-1 and PAR-4 and then determine the mode of action of proteins we identify. We expect the results of our studies to contribute to our understanding of how cell polarity is regulated during embryonic development of C. elegans and humans.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM079112-19
Application #
7575123
Study Section
Development - 1 Study Section (DEV1)
Program Officer
Haynes, Susan R
Project Start
1991-02-05
Project End
2011-06-30
Budget Start
2009-04-01
Budget End
2011-06-30
Support Year
19
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$467,399
Indirect Cost
Name
Cornell University
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Earth Sciences/Natur
DUNS #
872612445
City
Ithaca
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
14850
Watts, Jason S; Morton, Diane G; Kemphues, Kenneth J et al. (2018) The biotin-ligating protein BPL-1 is critical for lipid biosynthesis and polarization of the Caenorhabditis elegans embryo. J Biol Chem 293:610-622
Brennan, Lucy D; Roland, Thibault; Morton, Diane G et al. (2013) Small molecule injection into single-cell C. elegans embryos via carbon-reinforced nanopipettes. PLoS One 8:e75712
Beatty, Alexander; Morton, Diane G; Kemphues, Kenneth (2013) PAR-2, LGL-1 and the CDC-42 GAP CHIN-1 act in distinct pathways to maintain polarity in the C. elegans embryo. Development 140:2005-14
He, Yin; Beatty, Alexander; Han, Xuemei et al. (2012) Nonmuscle myosin IIB links cytoskeleton to IRE1? signaling during ER stress. Dev Cell 23:1141-52
Morton, Diane G; Hoose, Wendy A; Kemphues, Kenneth J (2012) A genome-wide RNAi screen for enhancers of par mutants reveals new contributors to early embryonic polarity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 192:929-42
McCloskey, Richard J; Kemphues, Kenneth J (2012) Deubiquitylation machinery is required for embryonic polarity in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS Genet 8:e1003092
Mi-Mi, Lei; Votra, SarahBeth; Kemphues, Kenneth et al. (2012) Z-line formins promote contractile lattice growth and maintenance in striated muscles of C. elegans. J Cell Biol 198:87-102
Li, Bingsi; Kim, Heon; Beers, Melissa et al. (2010) Different domains of C. elegans PAR-3 are required at different times in development. Dev Biol 344:745-57
Li, Jin; Kim, Heon; Aceto, Donato G et al. (2010) Binding to PKC-3, but not to PAR-3 or to a conventional PDZ domain ligand, is required for PAR-6 function in C. elegans. Dev Biol 340:88-98
Beatty, Alexander; Morton, Diane; Kemphues, Kenneth (2010) The C. elegans homolog of Drosophila Lethal giant larvae functions redundantly with PAR-2 to maintain polarity in the early embryo. Development 137:3995-4004

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