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TitleMIR-9 targets OC2 in proliferating and differentiating neural stem cells
NameDavila, Jorge (author), Hart, Ronald P (chair), Brewer, Gary (internal member), Grumet, Martin (internal member), Cai, Li (outside member), Rutgers University, Graduate School - New Brunswick,
Degree Date2011-05
Date Created2011
SubjectCell and Developmental Biology,
RNA,
Neural stem cells
DescriptionMicroRNAs are key regulators of biological processes. In this thesis we identify mir-9 as a critical regulator during NSC proliferation and neuronal differentiation. Interestingly the role of mir-9 in NSCs differs depending on our experimental model. In a rat multipotential NSC, exogenous expression of mir-9 alone can enhance their neurogenic capacity. Meanwhile, in human NSCs mir-9 plays a role in NSC maintenance. These results either suggest that the role of mir-9 is not conserved across species or most likely that mir-9 can exert different cellular functions depending on the cellular context. In H1 NSCs subpopulations of cells expressing different combinations of proliferation and/or differentiation markers in cultures of neuronal differentiating cells were identified. The combined expression of differentiating and proliferating markers is a clear indication that differentiation is a “fluid” process that requires multiple overlapping steps to reach a specific phenotype. In addition, we identified OC2 as an anti-neuronal gene. Its mRNA is associated with the RISC complex during NSC neuronal differentiation where mir-9 serves to reduce OC2 protein output. These data together show that mir-9 serves to regulate NSCs in a context dependent manner and that it can canalyze neuronal differentiation by inhibiting genes that would prevent or retard neuronal differentiation.
NotePh.D.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
NoteIncludes vita
Noteby Jorge Davila
Genretheses
Persistent URLhttp://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.1/rucore10001600001.ETD.000061184
Languageeng
CollectionGraduate School - New Brunswick Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.