STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF FRIZZLED-LIKE PROTEINS IN SKELETAL DEVELOPMENT

这个项目的目标是研究一个新的家族的作用 骨骼发育、再生和疾病中的卷曲样基因。 我们实验室发现了一个命名为frzb的新基因和 其表达模式的动态主要限于 在人类胚胎发育过程中发育的骨骼，向我们展示了 深入研究一类全新基因的难得机会 参与骨骼形态发生的。Frzb与果蝇有亲缘关系 极性基因卷曲，编码一个完整的膜蛋白。这 细胞对组织极性信号的反应需要基因座。 强烈的卷曲突变与机翼的随机取向有关 果蝇身上的毛发。 对这组决定极性的基因的研究应该能让我们 进一步定义细胞表面蛋白/膜受体及其配体 以及直接参与构图的信号转导通路 在骨骼结构的发展过程中。

The objective of this project is to study the role of a novel family of frizzled-like genes in skeletal development, regeneration and disease. The discovery of a novel gene designated frzb in our laboratory and the dynamics of its expression pattern predominantly restricted to the developing skeleton during human embryonic development, presents us with a unique opportunity to study a complete new class of genes intimately involved in skeletal morphogenesis. Frzb is related to the Drosophila polarity gene frizzled, which encodes an integral membrane protein. This locus is required for the cellular response to a tissue polarity signal. Strong frizzled mutations are associated with random orientation of wing hairs in the fruit fly. The study of this group of polarity determining genes should allow us to further define the cell surface proteins/membrane receptors, their ligands and signal transduction pathways directly involved in the patterning process during the development of skeletal structures.