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之间相互作用的生化基础-寻求探索细胞外基质(ECM)角蛋白类别的蛋白质与雪旺细胞相互作用并诱导细胞内变化的具体机制。这个项目有三个目标。首先，有必要完善对角蛋白等细胞外基质蛋白的理解和分类。长期以来，人们一直认为ECM蛋白只具有结构性质，最近的研究表明，ECM蛋白具有大量的调控活性。虽然角蛋白有几种分类，但对它们的具体作用和三维结构还缺乏了解。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物做出反应的机制。归因于角蛋白的细胞信号还没有得到很好的研究，可能会导致对这些生物分子在生物体调节过程中的作用有一个革命性的理解。第三，该项目将继续与维克森林再生医学研究所合作研究雪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，以一种有意义的方式让本科生参与进来。

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.