# Functional Analysis of Cellular Quescence

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR · 2020 · $310,575

## Abstract

Project Summary
Cellular quiescence plays a key role in adult stem cells by providing a pool of self-renewing cells that can
differentiate into specific lineages to replenish cells lost from natural turnover or injury. Quiescence also
protects cancer stem cells from many common therapies that target rapidly dividing tumors, and is postulated
to be a major contributor to cancer relapse. Thus, understanding the regulatory mechanisms that contribute to
the self-renewal, survival, and formation of quiescent cells has important implications for many aspects of
human health, including tissue regeneration and cancer therapeutics. In this proposal, we will define these
mechanisms using the model organism, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, where stationary phase has emerged as
an excellent system to study cellular quiescence. Quiescent yeast cells represent a sub-population of growth
arrested, non-dividing or G0 cells that can be isolated from a stationary phase culture in sufficient quantities for
genetic, molecular, and genomic analyses. Like quiescent adult stem cells in vertebrates, quiescent yeast cells
show extended viability and can re-enter the cell cycle when growth-promoting signals are restored. Moreover,
the formation of these cells plays a key role in the regulation of chronological lifespan and cellular longevity. In
three specific aims, we will use a combination of molecular, genetic, and genomic approaches to define the
reproductive capacity of quiescent cells by following the temporal and spatial program of DNA replication upon
re-entry of quiescent cells into the cell cycle (Aim1); the mechanisms involved in the repair of exogenous DNA
to preserve genome integrity (Aim 2); and the histone post-translational modifications that play a role in the
formation and survival of quiescent cells and thereby regulate chronological lifespan (Aim 3). The proposed
studies could provide important paradigms for understanding the mechanisms that contribute to the formation
and maintenance of quiescent cells in more complex developmental systems, and the relationship of
quiescence to cell longevity.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9901407
- **Project number:** 5R01AG054494-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO HEALTH SCIS CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** MARY ANN OSLEY
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $310,575
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-01 → 2022-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9901407

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9901407, Functional Analysis of Cellular Quescence (5R01AG054494-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9901407. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*