Research Initiation Award Grant: Biochemical Basis of Interaction between Keratin-Derived Materials and Schwann Cells

研究启动奖：角蛋白衍生材料与雪旺细胞相互作用的生化基础

• 批准号: 1238797
• 负责人: Charles Ebert
• 金额: $ 19.95万
• 依托单位: Winston-Salem State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-09-01 至 2015-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1238797&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Research; Initiation; Award; Grant; Biochemical

The Research Initiation Award entitled -Biochemical Basis of Interaction between Keratin-Derived Materials and Schwann Cells - seeks to explore the specific mechanisms by which the extra-cellular matrix (ECM) keratin class of proteins interacts with Schwann cells and induces intracellular changes. This project has three goals. First, there is a need to refine the understanding and classification of ECM proteins such as keratins. Long considered as only structural in nature, recent research has shown numerous regulatory activities for ECM proteins. While several classifications of keratins are known to exist, there is a dearth of knowledge to their specific roles and their three-dimensional structures. Second, this project will elucidate the cell surface mechanism by which interaction with keratin leads to nuclear changes in Schwann cells, particularly in regards to how Schwann cells react to chemical stimulants in their microenvironments. Cellular signaling attributed to keratin is not well-studied and could lead to a transformative understanding of the role of these biomolecules in regulatory processes of an organism. Third, the project will continue to study structure and function of Schwann cells in collaboration with the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. The goal is to investigate how the state of keratin impacts cellular response. This project has a strong educational component, involving undergraduate students in a meaningful way.

该研究启动奖题为-角蛋白衍生材料与许旺细胞之间相互作用的生化基础-旨在探索细胞外基质（ECM）角蛋白类蛋白与许旺细胞相互作用并诱导细胞内变化的具体机制。该项目有三个目标。首先，需要完善对ECM蛋白如角蛋白的理解和分类。长期以来，ECM蛋白被认为是结构性的，最近的研究表明ECM蛋白具有许多调节活性。虽然已知存在角蛋白的几种分类，但缺乏对它们的特定作用和它们的三维结构的了解。其次，该项目将阐明与角蛋白相互作用导致雪旺细胞核变化的细胞表面机制，特别是关于雪旺细胞如何在其微环境中对化学刺激剂作出反应。归因于角蛋白的细胞信号传导没有得到很好的研究，并且可能导致对这些生物分子在生物体的调节过程中的作用的变革性理解。 第三，该项目将继续与维克森林再生医学研究所合作研究许旺细胞的结构和功能。目的是研究角蛋白的状态如何影响细胞反应。这个项目有很强的教育成分，以有意义的方式让本科生参与。