# IMMUNOLOGIC STUDIES OF C ELEGANS--EARLY DEVELOPMENT

> **NIH NIH R37** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO · 1994 · $278,092

## Abstract

The goal is to understand the mechanisms by which cells become committed to
specific developmental fates in early embryogenesis.  Using embryos of the
nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, and taking a combined genetic, cellular,
and molecular approach, we shall continue to investigate the nature of
early cytoplasmic influences on cell fate.  We plan to test the validity of
two possible models for the mechanism of determination.  Model A is the
classical view that several distinct, lineage-specific, maternally derived
cytoplasmic deteminants in the form of informational macromolecules are
segregated during cleavage to the various embryonic founder cells, whose
fates are thereby determined prior to the onset of embryonic gene
expression.  Model B is an alternative view that gradients of only one or
two less specific, maternally derived determinants dictate these fates by
regulating early differential expression of selector genes in the different
founder cells.

In evaluating Model A, we shall biochemically and functionally characterize
the germ-line-specific P granules, which segregate in the manner of
cytoplasmic determinants, to establish whether or not they are, in fact,
determinative for the germ line.  Biochemical characterization will include
analysis of their components by immunoprecipitation and islolation of
cloned genes coding for the major P-granule antigens.  Experiments to
ascertain their function(s) will include microinjection of anti-P-granule
antibodies into early embryos and continued screening for
P-granule-defective mutants.  To evaluate Model B we shall characterize the
earliest embryonic gene expression after fertilization, by radioactive
labelling of RNA in early embryos as well as generation of monoclonal
antibodies against the first newly synthesized embryonic antigens.  As
byproducts of these experiments we hope to expand our library of monoclonal
antibodies to lineage-specific antigens and to identify additional
components of the cellular machinery responsible for generating asymmetry
and for accomplishing asymmetric segregation in the early embryo.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2197149
- **Project number:** 5R37HD014958-14
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO
- **SAM.gov UEI:** SPVKK1RC2MZ3
- **Principal Investigator:** WILLIAM B WOOD
- **Activity code:** R37 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $278,092
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1980-12-01 → 1995-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2197149

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2197149, IMMUNOLOGIC STUDIES OF C ELEGANS--EARLY DEVELOPMENT (5R37HD014958-14). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2197149. Licensed CC0.

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