EAGER: Exploratory and novel mechanisms of cytoskeleton-induced regulation of Sirt1 in smooth muscles

1156307/Boriek这个由生物技术，生物化学和生物质工程项目资助的EAGER奖将使用工程工具来探索关于平滑肌细胞信号转导机制的新颖和有争议的假设。 该假说涉及细胞骨架在调节这些细胞中的机械传感基因中的作用。在这个发展研究项目中，从拟议的实验中产生的探索性数据可以首次提供关于特定细胞骨架元件在平滑肌细胞沉默信息调节因子1（Sirt 1）调节中的新型信号作用的基本创新信息。这项研究将涉及生物工程，生理学，生物物理学和分子生物学的跨学科专家团队。 这项工作的长期目标是有助于了解调节哮喘气道平滑肌功能障碍的分子生理机制，并揭示可能改变预防和治疗哮喘的干预方法的创新分子机制。EAGER的结果可能提供新的探索性数据，可能有助于指导预防和治疗哮喘的干预方法，并改善哮喘患者的生活质量。该奖项将整合科学，分子生物学，生物化学和生理学的研究和教育，直接参与本科生，研究生，并可能医学生。它将鼓励学生参与并组织科学会议。 PI将通过贝勒医学院SMART计划吸引本科生，该计划支持代表性不足的学生最初作为本科生从事研究工作。 PI还将有助于在工程，生物学和医学之间的接口研究生的培训。

1156307/ BoriekThis EAGER award funded by the Biotechnology, Biochemical and Biomass Engineering Program will use engineering tools to explore a novel and controverial hypothesis about the mechanism of signal transduction in smooth muscle cells. The hypothesis involves the role of the cytoskeleton in regulating mechanosensing genes in these cells. Exploratory data generated from the proposed experiments in this developmental research project could provide for the first time fundamental innovative information on a novel signaling role of specific cytoskeletal elements in the regulation of the silent information regulator 1 (Sirt1) in smooth muscle cells. The research will engage an interdisciplinary team of experts in bioengineering, physiology, biophysics, and molecular biology. The long term objective of the work is to contribute to the understanding of the molecular physiological mechanisms modulating airway smooth muscle dysfunction in asthma, and to uncover innovative molecular mechanisms that could potentially alter interventional approaches for preventing and treating asthma. Results from the proposed EAGER may provide novel exploratory data that could potentially contribute to guide interventional approaches for preventing and treating asthma, and improve the quality of life in asthmatics. The award will integrate research and education in science, molecular biology, and biochemistry, and physiology by directly engaging undergraduate, graduate, and possibly medical students. It will encourage students to participate as well as organize scientificmeetings. The PI will attract undergraduates through Baylor College of Medicine SMART Program that supports under-represented students to pursue research careers initially as undergraduates. The PI will also contribute to the training of graduate students at the interface between engineering, biology and medicine.