Germ cells are essential for sexual reproduction and the survival of many species. Different species use different strategies to form germ cells. Drosophila melanogaster uses maternally inherited germ granules to determine germ cell fate. Germ granules are heterogeneous aggregates of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes that undergo dynamic positional, morphological, and compositional changes during germline development, a process that spans oogenesis and early embryogenesis.

Me31B, a conserved germ granule component, is expressed in nurse cells, oocytes, and early embryos. In those cells, Me31B exists in different types of RNP granules, including nuage granules, P-bodies, sponge bodies, and germ plasm granules. In these granules, Me31B has been suggested to function as a putative ATP-dependent RNA helicase that interacts with other germline proteins and RNAs to exert post-transcriptional regulation on those RNAs. As an important example, Me31B associates with osk mRNA to ensure its proper translation into Osk protein only at the posterior pole of developing oocytes. Then, the Osk protein initiates a step-wise assembly pathway that recruits downstream proteins including Vas, Tud, and Aub to form the germ plasm and eventually dictates germ cell formation.

Me31B exhibits changes in its localization pattern, aggregation status, and even function as germline cells develop during the ovary-to-embryos transition. It is believed that these changes are correlated with the different biological contexts in which Me31B exists. We strive to understand the role and working mechanism of Me31B during germ cell development.

Our research is supported by:

• National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) R15 Grant to Ming Gao (Principle Investigator). Awarded amount: $464,973.00 (2018 – 2021)
• IUN Research Support Fund to Ming Gao (Principle Investigator). Funded amount: $19,577.00 (2018 – 2019)
• IUN Minority Opportunity for Research Experience (MORE) program to N. Olchawa and Gao (mentor) (2019)
• Beta Beta Beta Biological Society Research Grant to A. McCambridge and Gao (mentor). Funded amount: $800.00 (2018 – 2019)
• IUN Undergraduate Research Fund to D. Solanki and Gao (mentor). Funded amount: $2,500.00 (2018 – 2019)
• IUN Undergraduate Research Fund to A. McCambridge and Gao (mentor). Funded amount: $2,500.00 (2018 – 2019)
• IUN IN Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Summer Research Scholarship to N. Olchawa and Gao (mentor). Funded amount: $3,899.00 (2018)
• IUN IN Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Summer Research Scholarship to D. Casillas and Gao (mentor). Funded amount: $3,899.00 (2018)
• IUN Undergraduate Research Fund to H. DeHaan and Gao (mentor). Funded amount: $2,020.00 (2017 – 2018)
• IUN Undergraduate Research Fund to B. Armstrong and Gao (mentor). Funded amount: $2,020.00 (2017 – 2018)

IUN Research Project Initiation Grant to Ming Gao (Principle Investigator). Funded amount: $9,800.00 (2016 – 2017)