Deciphering the mechanisms of retinoic acid signaling during chondrogenesis

• Antragstellerin: Dr. Kerstin Böse
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Zellbiologie
• Förderung: Förderung von 2007 bis 2011
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 58651837

The overall objective of this study is to define the basic mechanisms that underlie the actions of specific molecules in chondrogenesis. Previous work has shown that some cartilage-promoting molecules, the bone morphogenetic proteins, function at least in part by turning off retinoid signaling. Retinoids are derivatives of Vitamin A and have long been known to influence cartilage formation. However the mechanisms by which they accomplish this role are poorly understood. The present project aims to elucidate the relationship between bone morphogenetic proteins and retinoid signaling as well as to characterize the mechanisms by which retinoids exert their anti-chondrogenic effect. Preliminary findings suggest that a gene encoding a transcriptional repressor might accomplish this role. To elucidate this function I will investigate how retinoids regulate its expression, as well as how the protein influences the activity of Sox9 (a gene essential for cartilage development). Furthermore detailed analysis of deficient mice will be carried out to investigate the in vivo significance of this factor during skeletal development.

• DFG-Verfahren: Forschungsstipendien
• Internationaler Bezug: Kanada
• Gastgeber: Professor T. Michael Underhill