The overall objective of this proposal is to understand the mechanism and regulation of transplacental calcium transport during mammalian embryonic development. Based on our previous identification of specific calcium-binding proteins (CaBP) in the human and mouse placentae, experiments are proposed here that directly examine the functional involvement of these proteins in the placental calcium transport process. Specifically, these projects aim to study how the CaBPs interac with Ca++, where they are located within the placental cells, how they participate in transmembrane calcium transport, and what are the cellular and molecular steps regulating their specific, temporal expression during development. These projects will be approached by first preparing purified placental CaBPs which may be used to raise specific antibodies. Detailed physicochemical analyses will be carried out to reveal conformational changes that may accompany Ca++ CaBP interactions. The specific antibodies will be used to localize the ultrastructural distribution of the CaBPs and will also be used to probe the nature of their functional involvement in placental calcium transport using cellular and subcellular methodologies. Finally, the developmental regulation of CaBP expression will be explored by 1) identifying putative regulatory factors and 2) characterizing the molecular processes leading to gene expression. The integrated approach taken here should lead to a fuller understanding of how a developing embryo obtains its calcium supply and futhermore provide general insights to the regulation of embryonic development.
Showing the most recent 10 out of 18 publications
