BIOLOGY OF SKELETAL AND MINERALIZED TISSUES

该计划项目赠款的广泛，长期目标是 询问和交流化学的新知识和基础知识 组成，分子结构，分子生物学，组织结构 和生理功能的细胞，特定的成分， 细胞的隔室和有机物的各个组分， 矿化结缔组织的无机矿物质成分， 特别是骨骼和牙齿，并探讨结构和 化学反应以及它们之间的关系。 一个主要 我们将致力于分子步骤的研究 包括特定的组织成分钙化， 对这些组织和区分它们的成分具有特异性 其他未矿化的结缔组织。 我们觉得这些 特定的组织成分和区分组织的特征， 钙化的个别细胞和细胞外成分的 矿化组织是重要的，因为这些特定的特征 很可能在定义它们的生物学特性方面发挥关键作用， 功能 我们的研究项目涵盖了解剖学的各个层面， 从超微结构研究开始， 矿物和有机成分的组织，包括高 分辨透射电子显微镜和电子探针 微区分析，电子衍射，检测新技术 组织的电子光学使用冷冻水合和环境 高分辨电镜免疫细胞化学 使用主要非胶原蛋白抗体的技术 被认为与组织密切相关 钙化 这些问题和其他重要问题的答案将 通过整合各种科学数据， 学科和技术，其中包括除了 超微结构分析以上，全方位的生化，物理 化学和分子生物学。 我们认为，这样一个深入和 多方面的集中研究工作围绕基本的 生物学和病理生理学的骨骼系统在各级的 解剖层次，即，分子、细胞、组织、器官和整体 生物体水平将提供对组织的更完整的理解， 钙化和钙化组织，并提供其他信息 为了获得可用于诊断的更合理的基础， 治疗和预防骨骼系统疾病， 使很大一部分人口丧失能力。

The broad, long-range objectives of this Program Project Grant are to inquire and communicate new and fundamental knowledge of the chemical composition, molecular structure, molecular biology, tissue organization and physiological functions of the cells, specific components and compartment of cells and the individual components of the organic and inorganic mineral components of mineralized connective tissues, with particular reference to bone and tooth and to explore the structural and chemical interactions and the relationships between them. A major effort will be made and directed to studies of the molecular steps comprising specific tissue component calcification and to the features specific to these tissues and to those components which distinguish them from other unmineralized connective tissues. We feel that these specific tissue components and the features which distinguish the calcification of individual cellular and extracellular components of the mineralized tissues are important since these specific characteristics are likely to play a critical role in defining their biological function. Our research projects cover all levels of the anatomical hierarchy starting with ultrastructural investigations on the organization of the mineral and organic component including high resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron probe microanalysis, electron diffraction, the new techniques of examining tissues by electron optics using the frozen hydrated and environmental stages, and high resolution electron microscopic immunocytochemical techniques using antibodies to the major non-collagenous proteins thought to be intimately and critically involved in tissue calcification. The answers to these and other important questions will be sought by integrating data from a wide variety of scientific disciplines and techniques, which include in addition to the ultrastructural analyses above, the full range of biochemical, physical chemistry and molecular biology. We feel that such an indepth and multifaceted concentrated research effort centered about the basic biology and pathophysiology of the skeletal system at all levels of the anatomical hierarchy, i.e., molecular, cellular, tissue, organ and whole organism levels will provide a more complete understanding of tissue calcification and calcified tissues, and provide additional information for a more rational basis which can be used for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases of the skeletal system which now disable a large part of the population.