Diversity Supplement for Easter Kabuya: The Role of Muscle Contraction in Gene Activation and Tissue Regeneration

A growing body of research in the planarian field supports the hypothesis that longitudinal muscle fibers secrete signaling proteins that are required for the regeneration of new tissues. However, these papers largely dismiss or do not address the role of muscle contraction in this process. Nonetheless, it is known that muscle contraction is induced immediately after injury and required for wound closure. In my lab, we are interested in how signaling events triggered by injury lead to changes in gene expression that are required for regeneration. We hypothesize that the muscle contraction triggered by a significant injury induces the activation of essential tissue patterning genes. We are using chemical inhibitors, RNA interference, and physiological measurements to test our hypothesis. This project has been the main focus of a talented undergraduate student in my laboratory, Easter Kabuya, who will be graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Biology this fall. We are requesting funds to support her as a post-baccalaureate in the lab so that she can complete her project, assemble it into a first author publication, and prepare for her next steps in biomedical research by applying to graduate or medical school.