THE BIOLOGY OF SKELETAL AND MINERALIZED TISSUES

该计划项目的广泛、长期目标是获取和 交流有关化学、分子结构、 细胞和细胞外基质的组织和生理功能 结缔组织，特别指骨、软骨和牙釉质。 相当大的努力将集中在组织钙化的研究和 骨骼和矿化组织区别于其他组织的特征 结缔组织，因为这些特定的特征很可能起到 在确定它们的生物功能方面起着关键作用。我们的研究项目 涵盖解剖层次和分子组织的所有级别，以及 正在通过整合来自广泛的数据来寻求重要问题的答案 科学学科和技术的多样性，包括超微结构 分析、生物化学、生物物理学和生物工程。 我们认为，如此多方面但集中的研究工作在基础上 骨骼系统的分子、细胞、组织、 器官和整个生物体的水平将产生更完整的理解 组织钙化、钙化组织和腹泻关节，并提供 为骨质疏松症的诊断、治疗和预防提供更合理的依据 现在使很大一部分人丧失能力的疾病。

The broad, long-range objectives of this Program Project are to acquire and communicate new, fundamental knowledge on the chemistry, molecular structure, organization and physiological function of the cells and extracellular matrix of connective tissues, with particular reference to bone, cartilage, and enamel. Considerable effort will be directed to studies of tissue calcification and to the features which distinguish the skeletal and mineralized tissues from other connective tissues, since these specific characteristics are likely to play a critical role in defining their biological function. Our research projects cover all levels of anatomical hierarchy and molecular organization and the answers to important questions are being sought by integrating data from a wide diversity of scientific disciplines and techniques, including ultrastructural analysis, biochemistry, biophysics, and bioengineering. We feel that such a multifaceted but concentrated research effort on the basic biology and pathology of the skeletal system at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ and whole organism levels will engender a more complete understanding of tissue calcification, calcified tissues and diarthrodial joints and provide a more rational basis for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the skeletal diseases that now disable a large part of the population.