My project is to study the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the regulation of stem cell activity and regeneration in the freshwater flatworm planarian Schmidtea mediterranea.
MMPs are extracellular proteases that play diverse roles in human disease. Previous studies have focused on their contributions to disease pathogenesis, but little is known about the normal physiological role of MMPs. Planarians are excellent model systems for complete organismal regeneration and accelerated sexual development; thus, these flatworms offer a unique opportunity to study the physiological role of MMPs. Using a combinatorial approach, incorporating RNA interference, in situ hybridization, immunostaining, and quantitative RT-PCR, we have established a novel role for the conserved matrix metalloproteinase, MMP-19, in the regulation of planarian stem cell activity.
Caitlin's thesis research is currently being written up as a first-author and peer-reviewed publication to be submitted upon graduation from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
As one of the recipient's of OUR's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (2015), the results of Caitlin's research can be found here.
