2016 — 2018 |
Hutchins, Erica |
F32Activity Code Description: To provide postdoctoral research training to individuals to broaden their scientific background and extend their potential for research in specified health-related areas. |
Functional Analysis of Draxin in Cranial Neural Crest Emigration @ California Institute of Technology
PROJECT SUMMARY The neural crest is a multipotent stem cell-like population, unique to vertebrates, that is essential for normal craniofacial morphogenesis. These cells contribute to a wide variety of derivatives, including the craniofacial skeleton and cartilage, sensory and autonomic ganglia of the peripheral nervous system, and pigmentation of the skin. Neural crest progenitors arise at the neural plate border, between neural and non- neural ectoderm, and, after neurulation, reside within the dorsal aspect of the future central nervous system, the neural tube. Neural crest cells then undergo an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to exit the neural tube, and migrate extensively at times to distant locations. Once they reach their destination, neural crest cells cease their migratory program and differentiate into a wide range of derivatives. The neural crest is indispensable for the development of the face? genetic defects affecting neural crest generation, migration, proliferation, or differentiation, result in numerous diseases and malformations affecting the face, e.g. Treacher Collins syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, and cleft palate to name a few. Thus, there is a need for basic scientific knowledge regarding the precise mechanisms underlying neural crest development. To this end, the Specific Aims of this Proposal seek to use loss-of-function experiments to: 1) Characterize the role of a gene, draxin, in cranial neural crest fate specification and EMT/migration by RNA sequencing and time-lapse confocal microscopy; and 2) Identify the signaling pathway(s) with which draxin interacts to regulate cranial neural crest development, by fluorescent reporter expression and in situ protein-protein interaction assays. The goal of this Proposal is to identify the mechanism by which draxin regulates cranial neural crest EMT and migration during development. Thus, the results of this Proposal will significantly enhance our understanding of the regulation of cranial neural crest EMT and migration, providing new scientific avenues for translational research applications in the treatment of craniofacial defects.
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0.915 |
2019 — 2021 |
Hutchins, Erica |
K99Activity Code Description: To support the initial phase of a Career/Research Transition award program that provides 1-2 years of mentored support for highly motivated, advanced postdoctoral research scientists. |
Characterization of the Roles and Regulation of Draxin in Cranial Neural Crest @ California Institute of Technology
PROJECT SUMMARY The neural crest (NC) is a stem cell population that originates within the forming central nervous system. NC cells delaminate from the neuroepithelium by undergoing a spatiotemporally regulated epithelial-to- mesenchymal transition (EMT) that proceeds in a coordinated wave head-to-tail to exit from the neural tube. Cranial NC cells, which arise in the head region of the embryo and are the only NC population in vivo with the ability to differentiate into craniofacial skeleton and cartilage, are indispensable for the development of the face; mutations affecting NC development result in numerous diseases and malformations affecting the craniofacial structures (e.g. Treacher Collins syndrome, cleft palate, etc.). Thus, a thorough understanding of the regulation of cranial NC EMT is essential to identify the etiology of craniofacial abnormalities. To date, research has focused on unraveling early events governing cranial NC induction at the neural plate border and the mechanism of delamination from the neural tube. However, little is known about the regulatory changes governing the timing of NC EMT and exit from the neural tube. My preliminary studies demonstrate that a Wnt pathway antagonist, Draxin, plays an important role in controlling the timing of NC EMT, perturbations of which have negative consequences for cranial NC migration. This role for Draxin is particularly interesting in light of the fact that the Wnt signaling pathway has been shown to be a major driver of NC development. The goal of this Proposal is to investigate the molecular mechanism by which Draxin affects cranial NC EMT, with focus on its role in Wnt signaling. To this end, the Specific Aims of this Proposal seek to combine chick embryology with state-of-the-art imaging and biochemistry to: 1) Characterize the interaction of Draxin and Wnt signaling in cranial NC EMT; 2) Identify the role of Draxin in the regulation of cell adhesion proteins; 3) Characterize the post-transcriptional regulation of Draxin; and 4) Identify the role of Draxin in the regulation of extracellular matrix proteins. The results of this Proposal will significantly enhance our understanding of the regulation of cranial NC EMT and migration, providing new scientific avenues for translational research applications in the treatment of craniofacial defects.
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0.915 |