Page 17 - Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Proceedings 2017-18

School of Science
Division of Life Science

Division of Life Science

Molecular Regulation of Muscle Stem Cell Quiescence by Non-coding RNAs
Supervisor: CHEUNG Tom / LIFS
Student: DOROTHEA Mike / BIOT Course: UROP1100, Fall

Skeletal muscle satellite cells are the resident stem cells in adult muscle tissues that have a remarkable regenerative
capacity. These cells are normally present in quiescent state, until they are activated to proliferate and regenerate new
muscle in response to injury. Upon activation of satellite cells, tight regulations of different transcriptional regulators
and cellular mechanisms are required to induce proper development of muscle. Procr, a downstream target of Wnt
signalling that is involved in both muscle and mammary gland development, was newly identified to be marking a
multipotent population of mammary stem cells, while its function in muscle development is still largely unknown.
Therefore, this project aims to investigate where Procr+ cells are located in the Tibialis Anterior (TA) Muscle.

Supervisor: CHEUNG Tom / LIFS
Student: ERESTA JAYA Luna / BIOT Course: UROP1100, Fall

This project originally aims to investigate the effects of localized Wnt signaling on the asymmetric cell division of muscle
satellite cells. The experimental plan was to immobilize Wnt proteins in nanobeads movable via optical tweezers, so that
it could be directed towards one terminus of a satellite cell, thus creating a localized signal. Theories regarding
asymmetric cell division, Wnt signaling pathway as well as protein-bead conjugation were learnt, however no
experimental involvement regarding the main project had been made due to schedule constraints. Nonetheless, various
fundamental laboratory techniques essential for muscle stem cell research were learnt. This report will discuss the two
main experiments executed, which are the isolation and immunostaining of single muscle fibers, as well as isolation,
cryosection and staining of whole muscle.

Supervisor: CHEUNG Tom / LIFS
Student: ZHANG Wenxin / BCB Course: UROP1100, Summer

CPEB4 is one of the important RNA-recognition motifs during the translation. It takes part in regulating the expression of
the key protein and so as to regulate the function of cells. Satellite cell is a tiny, mononucleated cell found in muscle
fibers which contributes a lot to the muscle regeneration. In this project, we try to figure out the relationship between
CPEB and satellite cell activation as well as its mechanism. During this process, various molecular and cell biology
techniques need to be performed and the skills of critical thinking and experiment design are required.

Evolutionary Art at the fast track

Supervisor: CHOW King Lau / LIFS
Student: AQIL Muhammad Alber / MATH Course: UROP1100, Spring
UROP2100, Summer
FU Brian / BIBU UROP1100, Spring
KAN Ying Hei / SSCI UROP1100, Summer

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