In humans, perinatal thyroid hormone (TH) deficiency results in developmental defects that in the nervous system includes mental retardation. TH acts through binding nuclear receptors (TR), which can control gene transcription. Thus, TH regulates development through induction of TH-responsive genes. hairless (hr) has been identified as a TH-responsive gene expressed in the brain, and thus is potentially involved in TH directed development of the nervous system.Our lab has recently defined the biochemical function of Hr as a corepressor that can act through TR. Corepressors are proteins that can repress transcription via a DNA bound transcription factor. Thus, the biochemical characterization of the protein has revealed that Hr may be involved in the mechanism of TR's transcriptional action. The purpose of the proposed research is to investigate the mechanism of Hr-based transcriptional repression, as this will lead to a greater understanding of how TR functions as a transcriptional regulator and how TR, through the recruitment of Hr, may affect nervous system development. I shall investigate Hr-based repression in three ways: 1) Determine the role of each of the repression domains in Hr-based repression; 2) Identify proteins that are recruited by Hr repression domains; 3) Demonstrate that the Hr-interacting protein is involved in Hr-based repression. By discerning the molecular mechanisms of Hr-mediated transcriptional repression, we may discover new avenues for therapeutic design to combat mental retardation as a consequence of altered gene expression.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
1F31NS044744-01
Application #
6552393
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F03A (20))
Program Officer
Leblanc, Gabrielle G
Project Start
2002-09-01
Project End
Budget Start
2002-09-01
Budget End
2003-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$38,455
Indirect Cost
Name
Hugo W. Moser Research Institute Kennedy Krieger
Department
Type
DUNS #
167202410
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21205
Thompson, Catherine C; Sisk, Jeanne M; Beaudoin 3rd, Gerard M J (2006) Hairless and Wnt signaling: allies in epithelial stem cell differentiation. Cell Cycle 5:1913-7
Beaudoin 3rd, Gerard M J; Sisk, Jeanne M; Coulombe, Pierre A et al. (2005) Hairless triggers reactivation of hair growth by promoting Wnt signaling. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 102:14653-8
Zarach, Joanna M; Beaudoin 3rd, Gerard M J; Coulombe, Pierre A et al. (2004) The co-repressor hairless has a role in epithelial cell differentiation in the skin. Development 131:4189-200