Midline fusion of the bilateral heart primordial is an early and essential morphogenetic step during the formation of a functional heart tube. Without this fusion, the two cardiac primordia develop in isolated contralateral positions, resulting in an embryonic malformation known as cardia bifida--or split heart. The long-term goal of the research project outlined in this proposal is to understand how the Nodal signaling pathway controls heart differentiation, migration, and L/R asymmetry. Specifically, phenotypic, genetic, and molecular characterization of a recently isolated mutation that affects zebrafish heart formation will be performed. Preliminary phenotypic analysis suggests that this is a new locus in the Nodal signaling pathway. Morphology and molecular probes will be used to perform a thorough phenotypic and gene expression analysis in order to determine what relevant developmental processes are perturbed. This new locus will also be mapped and cloned, allowing further genetic and molecular characterization of the gene, as well as placement of the gene into a genetic pathway leading to heart differentiation and early migration.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32HL073611-02
Application #
6752964
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F05 (20))
Program Officer
Commarato, Michael
Project Start
2003-06-01
Project End
2004-09-30
Budget Start
2004-06-01
Budget End
2004-09-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$17,226
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Francisco
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
094878337
City
San Francisco
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94143