Functional Dynamics of Nucleoli and its Associated Genome through Differentiation
Session Number
Project ID: BIO 37
Advisor(s)
Sui Huang, MD, PhD; Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Discipline
Biology
Start Date
22-4-2020 11:30 AM
End Date
22-4-2020 11:55 AM
Abstract
The nucleolus is one of the most notable constituents of the nucleus, being the factory of ribosome synthesis. For such vital cellular organelles, nucleoli are grossly understudied; the multi-functional nature of the nucleolus and its holistic influence on cellular metabolism remain unclear. In this study, we analyze the functional association between the nucleolus and various differentiation processes by evaluating correlations between nucleolar quantity, nucleolar area, and cellular specialization. Utilized cell models include keratinocyte grafts, virally reverse differentiated cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, myoblast cells, and neuroblast cells. Nucleoli in cells of different stages of differentiation were compared within each system; parallels drawn between these systems may illustrate the relationship between cellular differentiation and nucleolar structure.
Functional Dynamics of Nucleoli and its Associated Genome through Differentiation
The nucleolus is one of the most notable constituents of the nucleus, being the factory of ribosome synthesis. For such vital cellular organelles, nucleoli are grossly understudied; the multi-functional nature of the nucleolus and its holistic influence on cellular metabolism remain unclear. In this study, we analyze the functional association between the nucleolus and various differentiation processes by evaluating correlations between nucleolar quantity, nucleolar area, and cellular specialization. Utilized cell models include keratinocyte grafts, virally reverse differentiated cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, myoblast cells, and neuroblast cells. Nucleoli in cells of different stages of differentiation were compared within each system; parallels drawn between these systems may illustrate the relationship between cellular differentiation and nucleolar structure.