Cathryn Dong L&S Biological Sciences
Investigate the impact of Chrnal-E on cell proliferation in Cassiopeia
Sleep is a conserved behavior, yet its role in promoting growth remains poorly understood. In the jellyfish Cassiopea, the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit Chrnal-E promotes wakefulness and is structurally similar to human Chrna7, which regulates cell proliferation via the EGR1 pathway.
This project investigates whether Chrnal-E similarly regulates cell proliferation in Cassiopea. Using RNAi knockdown of Chrnal-E, I will compare proliferation levels in polyps and jellyfish using EdU labeling and Click-iT Chemistry. Whole-mount in situ hybridization will localize Chrnal-E mRNA expression, and TUNEL labeling will assess apoptosis. If knockdown reduces proliferation or increases apoptosis, it would suggest Chrnal-E’s functional role in growth. A backup experiment using MG624, an α7-nAChR antagonist, will test pathway involvement. This study may reveal evolutionarily conserved mechanisms linking sleep, growth, and cholinergic signaling.
Message To Sponsor
Thank you so much for sponsoring my project. I just want to express my sincere gratitude to your help. Thanks to your support I was able to make significant progress in investigating the possible cell proliferation mechanism in Cassiopeia. I get the opportunity to learn more lab techniques and knowledge as well as improving my problem-solving ability. I hope to continue this research throughout my upcoming academic years, and I can’t thank you enough for allowing me to pursue this opportunity!