# Sox11 function in muscle stem cells

> **NIH NIH F31** · PURDUE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $37,923

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
My career goal is to be an independent investigator researching the function of transcriptional regulation of
stem cells towards improving therapies for regenerative medicine. In this project, I will use mouse models to
study the regulation of a stem cell population called muscle satellite cells (MuSCs). The regenerative function
of MuSCs are controlled by gene regulatory networks (often transcriptional factors) that govern cell fate choice
among self-renewal, quiescence and/or differentiation. Our lab has recently employed single-cell RNA-
sequencing to profile gene expression of various cell populations during muscle regeneration. This assay led to
the identification of the transcription factor Sox11 as a candidate marker for MuSCs and a potential regulator of
MuSC differentiation. Studies suggest that Sox11 may regulate the expression of genes involved in the WNT/
β-catenin-signaling pathway, which has been shown to induce myogenesis during development and promote
differentiation of adult MuSCs in response to injury. To understand the genetic requirement and mechanism of
Sox11 in MuSCs, the proposal will address the following aims: (1) Determine the necessity for Sox11 in
skeletal muscle development and in response to injury. We will use conditional and inducible mouse models to
specifically knock-out Sox11 in muscle progenitors and in the adult MuSC pool. These experiments will allow
us to evaluate our hypothesis that Sox11 is essential for the differentiation of MuSCs in vivo. (2) Assess the
role Sox11 plays in WNT-signaling and determine if WNT activation can restore differentiation defects in
Sox11-KO myoblasts. This aim will evaluate our hypothesis that Sox11 regulates WNT-signaling pathway
genes to secure myoblast differentiation. While the essential function of Sox11 has been described in other
tissues, its role in myogenesis is unknown. This research proposal has the potential to identify Sox11 as novel
regulator of MuSC function via its transcriptional regulation of WNT-pathway components. This proposal will
undoubtedly provide excellent training in the field of gene regulation as it pertains to muscle stem cell function.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10249968
- **Project number:** 5F31AR077424-02
- **Recipient organization:** PURDUE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** STEPHANIE NICOLE OPRESCU
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $37,923
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-04-01 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10249968

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10249968, Sox11 function in muscle stem cells (5F31AR077424-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10249968. Licensed CC0.

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