Genetic and molecular study of chitin synthesis and assembly in the embryonic cuticle of Drosophila melanogaster

果蝇胚胎角质层几丁质合成和组装的遗传和分子研究

• 批准号: 32049868
• 负责人: Privatdozent Dr. Bernard Moussian
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Abteilung Genetik der Tiere
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Grants
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 德国
• 起止时间: 2005-12-31 至 2009-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/32049868?language=en
• 关键词: Genetic; molecular; study; chitin; synthesis

Polysaccharide-containing extracellular matrices (pECMs) like cartilage and the cuticle of arthropods are abundant structures in nature that assist shaping cells, tissues and whole organisms. The ultra-structure and composition of such ECMs has been well described in the last decades; however, central aspects of molecular mechanisms that govern the organisation of pECMs have still to be investigated. An excellent model to study principles of pECM differentiation is the embryonic cuticle of the genetically and molecularly highly accessible fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster. The polysaccharide-containing layer of the cuticle is the lower procuticle that harbours the polysaccharide chitin in association with proteins, responsible for cuticle elasticity. Although many chitin-binding proteins have been isolated and characterised, the molecular pathways controlling procuticle organisation are largely unknown. The aim of this project is to elucidate the molecular roles of the chitin synthase as well as of two membranebound factors, Knickkopf (Knk) and Retroactive (Rtv), in the assembly of the protein-chitin complex in the procuticle to contribute to the understanding of pECM differentiation.

含有多糖的细胞外基质（pECMs）如软骨和节肢动物的角质层是自然界中丰富的结构，其有助于塑造细胞、组织和整个生物体。在过去的几十年中，这种ECM的超微结构和组成已经得到了很好的描述;然而，管理pECM组织的分子机制的中心方面仍有待研究。研究pECM分化原理的一个很好的模型是遗传和分子高度接近的果蝇（Drosophila melanogaster）的胚胎表皮。角质层的含多糖层是下原角质层，其含有与蛋白质结合的多糖几丁质，负责角质层弹性。虽然许多几丁质结合蛋白已被分离和表征，控制原表皮组织的分子途径在很大程度上是未知的。本项目的目的是阐明几丁质合成酶以及两种膜结合因子Knickkopf（Knk）和Retroactive（RTV）在前表皮中蛋白质-几丁质复合物组装中的分子作用，以有助于理解pECM分化。