IDENTIFICATION OF NEMATODE NUCLEAR HORMONE RECEPTORS

线虫核激素受体的鉴定

• 批准号: 2070952
• 负责人: Claude Maina
• 金额: $ 7.49万
• 依托单位: NEW ENGLAND BIOLABS, INC.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 1994
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1994-01-01 至 1994-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2070952
• 关键词: Caenorhabditis elegans; Filarioidae; Nematoda; ecdysone; filariasis; genetic regulatory element; hormone receptor; parasitic disease chemotherapy; polymerase chain reaction; southern blotting; tissue /cell culture; vaccines; western blottings

Analogs of steroid hormones have been a fruitful source of a variety of drug therapies as they easily cross cell membranes and modulate transcriptional activity via their nuclear hormone receptors (NHR). The identification of nematode steroid hormones, and subsequently their analogs, could be a fruitful source of antihelminthic drug therapies; while the identification of nematode NHR-regulated genes could be a source of vaccine candidates. The insect steroid molting hormone, ecdysone, and its receptor (EcR) is of particular interest because of its essential role in development, its presence and biological effects in nematodes, and its absence from parasitic nematode hosts. Study of the nematode EcR-regulated genes will stimulate the development of anti- molting drugs and vaccine candidates. Using EcR-specific reagents and the highly conserved nature of the NHR superfamily, the existence of EcR homologs will be determined for Dirofilaria immitis, dog heartworm, and the free living nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. D. immitis offers a large market for drug therapies and vaccines, while the genetic and molecular foundation of C. elegans allows for greater experimentation. The expression pattern, function, and drug target potential will be studied for any nematode EcR and any molt-regulating NHR identified.

类固醇激素的类似物已成为各种