INTRODUCTORY PHASE

本研究的目的是确定zALK-8的作用， II型丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶受体，在颅面生长中， 发展 为此，野生型DNA构建体，组成型 将该受体的活性和截短形式连接到质粒中， 转化，并通过minipreps分离。 1-%琼脂糖凝胶，然后 序列分析证实了这些扩增的构建体的分离。 来自每个构建体的mRNA被用于显微注射研究 利用斑马鱼作为动物模型， 这种新的受体正在发育中。 潜在的配体相互作用可以 根据注射后的表型表达进行预测 鱼的发展，然而，表征和隔离的实际 该受体的配体正在通过与 法国的调查员。

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of zALK-8, a novel type II serine/threonine kinase receptor, in crainofacial growth and development. To do so, DNA constructs of wild type, constitutively active, and truncated forms of this receptor were ligated into plasmid, transformed, and isolated via minipreps. 1-% agarose gels followed by sequence analysis confirmed isolation of these amplified constructs. mRNA from each construct is being employed in microinjection studies using the zebrafish as an animal model to help determine the role of this novel receptor in development. Potential ligand interactions can be predicted based on the phenotypic expression seen as the injected fish develop, however characterization and isolation of the actual ligand for this receptor is being determined through collaboration with investigators in France.