Acetabularia, a unicellular marine alga, has been a classic model system for cellular and developmental biology due to its unique characteristics. This organism features a giant single-celled structure, which simplifies cellular imaging and manipulation. Additionally, Acetabularia exhibits intricate differentiation patterns, including the formation of a characteristic cap structure, which provides an excellent system to study cellular polarity and morphogenesis. Moreover, Acetabularia is rich in RNA content, making it an ideal model to explore the diverse roles of RNA in cellular processes.
We are interested in the following:
A) RNA localization, stability, and trafficking in Acetabularia.
B) The role of non-coding RNA in Acetabularia development and cellular processes.
C) RNA regulatory networks in the cellular transport process in Acetabularia.