Analysis of MELK Function In Vivo in CNS Neural Progenitors And
in Brain Tumors  Funding Type:  New Faculty I Grant Number: 
ICOC Funds Committed:  Public Abstract:  In most tissues,
including the central nervous system, differentiation from a
somatic multipotent stem cell proceeds through transit-
amplifying progenitors (TAPs). These highly mitotic progenitors
are the first committed cells, which may remain multipotent, but
have limited self-renewal capacity. Despite the recent progress
in understanding the pathways operating in stem cells, the
molecular mechanisms that function selectively in TAPs remain
poorly studied. TAPs are likely critical cells that determine
the extent of adult neural cell growth. TAPs may also be the key
cells responsible for the transition from lifetime self-renewing
stem cells to highly proliferative but short-lived progenitors.
This is a very important point in neural cell development and
thus, TAPs may be potential targets for neoplastic
transformations. We have identified a nove