Exploring extracellular matrix remodelling during lung branching morphogenesis

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Formation of the lung is an important process required for survival. Our research is focused on understanding how cells function during lung development and how this function is controlled. Cells within any tissue are surrounded by a “scaffold” of proteins called the extracellular matrix. This scaffold is not a static structure and is constantly being changed or remodelled by removing and adding different proteins. Importantly, this scaffold has the ability to signal to cells. This signalling can occur through direct interaction between the scaffold and the cells, as well as by the scaffold binding to and releasing specific signalling proteins called growth factors. My previous work found that when one of the proteins within the scaffold (called fibronectin) is altered, the formation of the lung airways is impaired because the cells within the airway do not divide (or proliferate) appropriately. Therefore, our proposed studies are focused on understanding how this entire scaffold is changed during lung development and how changes to the scaffold alters lung development.