The development of a vertebrate organism from a single fertilized egg is a complex series of events involving both cell proliferation and specialization. Many of these events have been shown to be mediated by intercellular signals. One such family of signaling factors is the Wnt gene family, which is comprised of at least 20 related vertebrate genes (Adamson et el., 1994; Bouillet et al., 1996; Christian et al., 1991; Christiansen et al., 1995; Gavin et al., 1990; Hume and Dodd, 1993; Kispert et al., 1996; Ku and Melton, 1993; Nusse and Varmus, 1982; Roelink and Nusse, 1991; Roelink et al., 1990; Sidow, 1992; Tanda et el., 1995; Wainwright et al., 1988; Wolda and Moon, 1992). Wnt genes encode cysteine- rick polypeptides possessing 50-60% amino acid identify which are though to be secreted signaling molecules involved in cell growth, survival, and, or, differentiation (McMahon et al., 1992; Nusse and Varmus, 1992). My laboratory is particularly interested in the role(s) of directing pluripotential chick somite cells to become skeletal muscle. Although several Wnt family members have been shown to be sufficient and necessary for the induction of myogenesis in vertebrates (Leyns et al., 1997; Munsterberg et el., 1995; Stern et al., 1995; Wang et al., 1997), we are lacking important information about how Wnt proteins act at a cellular level. Despite the identification of the Wnt-1 cDNA more than thirteen years ago (Fung et al., 1985), studies pertaining to the cellular roles of Wnt proteins have been severely hampered by the lack of soluble active ligand. For reasons that are poorly understood, Wnt genes are extremely refractory to over-expression. In this grant, I propose to utilize a COS cell expression system to generate WNT fusion proteins which can easily be purified and used as immunogens for the generation of anti-Wnt monoclonal antibodies. By comparing the biochemical properties of recombinant Wnt proteins and endogenous Wnt proteins, we hope to identify the differences that will help us pinpoint the reason it has been so difficult to generate active soluble recombinant Wnt protein. Furthermore, Wnt protein purified from the COS cell expression system and/or from chick embryos (using immunoaffinity columns) will be used to directly assess the role of Wnt proteins in myogenic specifications. The development of these key reagents will open the door to numerous future studies pertaining to both development and cancer. Another goal of this project is to give students (with particular emphasis on under-represented minorities) an opportunity to do """"""""hands-on"""""""" research. The intellectual and technical aspects of this project are quite accessible to both undergraduate and graduate students. This project will provide students with an excellent opportunity to utilize the techniques of biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, and developmental biology to address a scientific problem. Students will also be trained to keep good lab notebooks, critically analyze their data, orally present their data, prepare posters for meetings, and prepare manuscripts.

Project Start
2000-01-01
Project End
2000-12-31
Budget Start
1998-10-01
Budget End
1999-09-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2000
Total Cost
$127,003
Indirect Cost
Name
San Francisco State University
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
San Francisco
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94132
Tabuena, Dennis R; Solis, Allan; Geraldi, Ken et al. (2017) Central neural alterations predominate in an insect model of nociceptive sensitization. J Comp Neurol 525:1176-1191
Akom, Antwi; Shah, Aekta; Nakai, Aaron et al. (2016) Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) 2.0: how technological innovation and digital organizing sparked a food revolution in East Oakland. Int J Qual Stud Educ 29:1287-1307
McMackin, Marissa Zubia; Lewin, Matthew R; Tabuena, Dennis R et al. (2016) Use of von Frey filaments to assess nociceptive sensitization in the hornworm, Manduca sexta. J Neurosci Methods 257:139-46
Wadsworth, Tracy; Carriman, Andrew; Gutierrez, Alba A et al. (2014) Ecdysis behaviors and circadian rhythm of ecdysis in the stick insect, Carausius morosus. J Insect Physiol 71:68-77
Miranda, M; Galli, L M; Enriquez, M et al. (2014) Identification of the WNT1 residues required for palmitoylation by Porcupine. FEBS Lett 588:4815-24
Galli, Lisa M; Munji, Roeben N; Chapman, Susan C et al. (2014) Frizzled10 mediates WNT1 and WNT3A signaling in the dorsal spinal cord of the developing chick embryo. Dev Dyn 243:833-843
Galli, Lisa M; Szabo, Linda A; Li, Lydia et al. (2014) Concentration-dependent effects of WNTLESS on WNT1/3A signaling. Dev Dyn 243:1095-105
Shimoide, Alan; Kimball, Ian; Gutierrez, Alba A et al. (2013) Quantification and analysis of ecdysis in the hornworm, Manduca sexta, using machine vision-based tracking. Invert Neurosci 13:45-55
Tan, Ronald C; Vien, Janie Q T; Wu, Weiming (2012) Hydrolysis of ?-chloro-substituted 2- and 4-pyridones: rate enhancement by zwitterionic structure. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 22:1224-5
Wu, Jui-ching; Go, Aiza C; Samson, Mark et al. (2012) Sperm development and motility are regulated by PP1 phosphatases in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 190:143-57

Showing the most recent 10 out of 114 publications