RUI: Analysis of the role of Wntless in regulating Wnt gradient formation

RUI：分析Wntless在调节Wnt梯度形成中的作用

• 批准号: 0950892
• 负责人: Laura Burrus
• 金额: $ 35万
• 依托单位: San Francisco State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-07-01 至 2013-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0950892&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Analysis; role; Wntless; regulating

The proper development of an embryo relies on the coordination and integration of numerous signals. Wnt proteins represent one such class of signals and are required for many different developmental processes including brain, spinal cord, kidney, limb, lung, skin, bone, gonad, eye, ear, and muscle development. When properly functioning, Wnt proteins are secreted from cells and form an extracellular concentration gradient that is typified by a graded decline in concentration over distance. The shape and the length of this gradient have profound effects on the way that target cells respond to the Wnt signal. The goal of this work is to define the role of Wntless, a protein that is known to regulate the activity and distribution of Wnt proteins. In particular, this project will examine the role of Wntless in establishing the shape and length of the Wnt gradient. Upon the completion of these studies, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which gradients are formed will be gained. These data will have relevance to our understanding of embryonic development and may have broad implications for research pertaining to birth defects and other diseases in which Wnt signaling is improperly regulated. Importantly, funding for this research will provide research-training opportunities for up to 12 undergraduate and Masters students at San Francisco State University, which has an unusually rich and diverse student population.

胚胎的正常发育依赖于众多信号的协调和整合。 Wnt蛋白代表了一类这样的信号，并且是许多不同发育过程所需的，包括脑、脊髓、肾、肢体、肺、皮肤、骨、性腺、眼、耳和肌肉发育。 当正常发挥功能时，Wnt蛋白从细胞分泌并形成细胞外浓度梯度，其典型表现为浓度随距离的梯度下降。 这种梯度的形状和长度对靶细胞响应Wnt信号的方式具有深远的影响。 这项工作的目标是确定Wntless的作用，Wntless是一种已知调节Wnt蛋白活性和分布的蛋白质。 特别是，该项目将研究Wntless在建立Wnt梯度的形状和长度方面的作用。 在完成这些研究后，将获得对形成梯度的分子机制的更好理解。 这些数据将与我们对胚胎发育的理解相关，并可能对出生缺陷和Wnt信号调节不当的其他疾病的研究产生广泛的影响。 重要的是，这项研究的资金将为旧金山弗朗西斯科州立大学的12名本科生和硕士生提供研究培训机会，该大学拥有异常丰富和多样化的学生群体。