Basement membranes are specialized forms of extracellular matrix which are built around a scaffold of collagen IV molecules. Although the precise functions of basement membranes are unclear, they play a critical role in a number of processes, including glomerular filtration, cell migration, cell adhesion, and the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation. It is significant that the synthesis of collagen IV is one of the earliest observable examples of developmentally controlled gene expression in the early mouse embryo. This expression is observed when uncommitted embryonic stem cells, called primitive endoderm, differentiate to yield parietal endoderm cells, which produce basement membrane components, and visceral endoderm cells. This differentiation can be mimicked in mouse F9 embryonal carcinoma cells by simple manipulation of the culture conditions. This affords us a powerful assay system for factors which affect the synthesis of collagen IV and other basement membrane components. In this research proposal we will examine how the expression of collagen IV is controlled both in mouse embryos and F9 cells. In support of this goal, we have recently isolated the gene for mouse alpha2(IV) collagen, and are beginning to characterize the promoter region. We have cloned and sequenced the entire cDNA for mouse alpha2(IV) collagen, and have cloned, but not yet fully sequenced the entire cDNA for mouse alphal(IV) collagen. Work is in progress to isolate and characterize the promoter region for alphal(IV) collagen. In the first phase of the proposed research we will determine which portions of the gene are required for correct temporal and spatial expression of the collagen IV genes, both in F9 cells and in mouse embryos. In the second phase we will identify, isolate, and characterize DNA-binding and other proteins which are implicated in the regulation of collagen IV gene expression. In the third phase, we will clone and further characterize these proteins. It is our belief that this work will lead to a further understanding of gene regulation during early mouse development and will have important implications for the for the pathobiology of basement membranes.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM034090-09
Application #
3284562
Study Section
Pathobiochemistry Study Section (PBC)
Project Start
1984-07-01
Project End
1992-12-31
Budget Start
1992-07-01
Budget End
1992-12-31
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
622146454
City
Piscataway
State
NJ
Country
United States
Zip Code
08854
Tanaka, S; Kaytes, P; Kurkinen, M (1993) An enhancer for transcription of collagen IV genes is activated by F9 cell differentiation. J Biol Chem 268:8862-70
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Buttice, G; Kaytes, P; D'Armiento, J et al. (1990) Evolution of collagen IV genes from a 54-base pair exon: a role for introns in gene evolution. J Mol Evol 30:479-88
Saus, J; Quinones, S; MacKrell, A et al. (1989) The complete primary structure of mouse alpha 2(IV) collagen. Alignment with mouse alpha 1(IV) collagen. J Biol Chem 264:6318-24
Quinones, S; Saus, J; Otani, Y et al. (1989) Transcriptional regulation of human stromelysin. J Biol Chem 264:8339-44
Muthukumaran, G; Blumberg, B; Kurkinen, M (1989) The complete primary structure for the alpha 1-chain of mouse collagen IV. Differential evolution of collagen IV domains. J Biol Chem 264:6310-7
Saus, J; Quinones, S; Otani, Y et al. (1988) The complete primary structure of human matrix metalloproteinase-3. Identity with stromelysin. J Biol Chem 263:6742-5
Hostikka, S L; Kurkinen, M; Tryggvason, K (1987) Nucleotide sequence coding for the human type IV collagen alpha 2 chain cDNA reveals extensive homology with the NC-1 domain of alpha 1 (IV) but not with the collagenous domain or 3'-untranslated region. FEBS Lett 216:281-6
Boot-Handford, R P; Kurkinen, M; Prockop, D J (1987) Steady-state levels of mRNAs coding for the type IV collagen and laminin polypeptide chains of basement membranes exhibit marked tissue-specific stoichiometric variations in the rat. J Biol Chem 262:12475-8
Kurkinen, M; Condon, M R; Blumberg, B et al. (1987) Extensive homology between the carboxyl-terminal peptides of mouse alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(IV) collagen. J Biol Chem 262:8496-9

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