Auburne Mauger
Class of 2025Littleton, Colorado
About
Hello! My name is Auburne Mauger and I am interested in pursuing a project on the mechanics of the neurological cell cycle. This topic is of my interest because the research surrounding it is currently very abstract and I believe it has potential for exploration that could yield significant medical innovation! In the product of my research, I hope to draft an evidence-based paper, theory, or hypothesis that could hopefully gain interest and lead to further research on the topic.Projects
- "How cell cycle transcription factors inhibit neural proliferation" with mentor Danielle (Aug. 3, 2023)
Project Portfolio
How cell cycle transcription factors inhibit neural proliferation
Started Feb. 23, 2023
Abstract or project description
Adult neurons are incapable of cellular proliferation due to their abnormal cell cycle. Upon maturation, post-mitotic neurons face terminal cell cycle arrest at the G1/S checkpoint. If cell cycle re-entry is attempted, neurons trigger pro-apoptotic pathways that kill the cell before any proliferative progress can be made (Figure 1). These processes inhibiting neural replication are highly influenced by cell cycle transcription factors, which face neuro-specific regulations to induce such unique cellular events. This paper examines how the regulations and differential functions of neural cell cycle transcription factors facilitate neurons’ inability to proliferate. Specifically, we review how BHLH, E2F, SMAD, FOXO1, c-MYC, p53, and Brn-3a regulate cell cycle arrest, and how E2F1, FOXO1, C-JUN, and p53 facilitate neural apoptosis upon attempted cell cycle re-entry.