The regulation of actin cytoskeleton in mouse embryonic stem cells during self-renewal and differentiation.

• Main Author: Koh, Cheng Gee
• Other Authors: School of Biological Sciences
• Format: Research Report
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: DRNTU::Science::Biological sciences
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/55375
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The Rho GTPases are a family of small GTP binding proteins belonging to the Ras superfamily and are known to be crucial in the regulation of a myriad of cellular events such as cell growth, cell movement and motility, transcription and cell cycle control. They also play an important role in the control of cell morphology, which is critically dependent on the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton. Although the effects of Rho GTPases on the modulation of the actin cytoskeleton are well documented, the dynamic behaviour of actin cytoskeleton which is also intimately connected with the cell cycle progression is less well studied. It is known that while interphase cells contain extensive cytoskeletal network, entry into mitosis is accompanied by the dissolution of this network resulting in the loss of attachment to the cell matrix and rounding up of the cells. The cytoskeletal network is rebuilt as cells re-enter interphase upon completion of mitosis. This dynamic integration of actin cytoskeleton regulation with cell cycle progression is not well understood at molecular level. This project aims to decipher the molecular mechanism, which links the control of the actin cytokseleton and the regulation of cell cycle progression.