Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS)is a rare genetic disorder characterized by premature senescence. Affected children appear normal at birth, but within a year develop characteristic features of old age. The majority of HGPS children die from cardiac disease at an average age of 13 years. Genetic studies have identified a mutation in the lamin A/C (LMNA) gene in 18 classical HGPS cases. The mutation results in the production of a mutant lamin A protein with an internal deletion. The mechanism by which the mutated HGPS lamin A protein leads to accelerated aging is unknown. Lamin A appear to maintain nuclear structure and function through a set of specific protein interaction with other cellular factors. I therefore hypothesize that expression of the mutant HGPS lamin-A protein results in premature aging as a consequence of the . altered composition and function of lamin A-containing complexes within the nucleus. To test this hypothesis, in Aim 1 I will first define the cellular growth properties of HGPS fibroblast to identify the cellular pathways responsible for the limited life span of these cells in culture. Then in aim 2,1 will employ biochemical approaches to identify and characterize the proteins associated with wild type and mutant HGPS laminA.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31GM076861-04
Application #
7545473
Study Section
Minority Programs Review Committee (MPRC)
Program Officer
Toliver, Adolphus
Project Start
2006-01-01
Project End
2009-12-31
Budget Start
2009-01-01
Budget End
2009-12-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$41,035
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Southern California
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
072933393
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90089
Candelario, Jose; Chen, Leng-Ying; Marjoram, Paul et al. (2012) A filtering strategy identifies FOXQ1 as a potential effector of lamin A dysfunction. Aging (Albany NY) 4:567-77
Candelario, Jose; Borrego, Stacey; Reddy, Sita et al. (2011) Accumulation of distinct prelamin A variants in human diploid fibroblasts differentially affects cell homeostasis. Exp Cell Res 317:319-29