School of Science Division of Life Science 33 Genetic Studies on Stem Cell Regulation Supervisor: XIE, Ting / LIFS Co-supervisor: TU, Renjun / LIFS Student: LEE, Man Ping / BIOT Course: UROP4100, Fall RNA modifications are commonly found in cells to regulate different cellular processes. RNA 2’-Omethylation and pseudo-U modifications are highly prevalent among different types of RNA modifications. However, the functions of 2’-O-methylations and pseudo-U modifications in the germline stem cell and stem cell niche remain largely unknown. Here, we found that two 2’-O-methylation writers, 42553 Fib and 62465 CG10909, and one pseudo-U writer, 55655 heph, may play roles in the GSC self-renewal in the germarium. The regulation of self-renewal and differentiation of GSCs may be regulated by a pseudo-U writer, 53288 pus1. We also found out that egg lethality is resulted from 35669 heph knockdown, indicating its possible essential function in oocyte maturation or embryo development. Lastly, 41825 pus7 may be associated with the development of ovaries in female Drosophila. Genetic Studies on Stem Cell Regulation Supervisor: XIE, Ting / LIFS Co-supervisor: TU, Renjun / LIFS Student: LEE, Wing Yan / BIBU Course: UROP1100, Summer Stem cells have the ability to continuously undergo self-renewal and differentiation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the self-renewal and differentiation of stem cells remain largely unclear. In this project, using the Gal4-UAS system, I carried out the knockdown of 19 Drosophila genes with nos-Gal4, c587Gal4, and Bab1-Gal4 in germline, differentiation niche and self-renewal niche, respectively. I have found some genes that are important for germline stem cell development. Taken together, my results have provided insights in understanding the genes that facilitate the regulation of stem cell self-renewal and differentiation, within the germarial stem cell niche. Genetic Studies on Stem Cell Regulation Supervisor: XIE, Ting / LIFS Co-supervisor: TU, Renjun / LIFS Student: ONG, Gavyn Kye Wen / BCB Course: UROP1100, Summer Stem cells have been a great research topic of interest in recent years due to its implication for regenerative medicine and understanding its role in cancer development and research. Drosophila have been used as a genetic model organism due to its short life cycle and easily manipulated genome to investigate specific genes of interest. Male flies with the following genes: nos, c587 and bab1 were bred with virgin female flies and its female offspring was collected for its ovaries for analysis by carrying out dissection, immunostaining, mounting and confocal microscopy. The abnormal phenotypes were recorded for further analysis to understand how these abnormalities affect stem cell regulation.
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