This continuation project proposes extensive further studies on elastin biology and biochemistry. These studies are designed to delineate the molecular events of elastogenesis in physiologic situations concentrating on regulation of elastin gene expression both at transcriptional and post- transcriptional levels. This proposal is based on our significant progress made on molecular biology of elastin during the previous project period. The progress made includes (a) development and sequencing of full-length human elastin cDNAs; (b) characterization of the entire elastin gene structure with respect to exon/intron organization; (c) elucidation of alternative splicing occuring during post-transcriptional processing of elastin primary RNA transcripts; (d) characterization of structural features, including the precise nucleotide sequence, of ~ 2.2 kb of 5'- flanking region of the elastin gene containing the putative promoter elements; (e) development of functional elastin promoter/CAT gene constructs, and demonstration of functional promoter activity in a variety of human and rodent cell lines, including human skin fibroblasts; (f) construction of 5'-3' and 3'-5' deletion libraries that have delineated the basic promoter element and identified several positive (enhancer-like) and negative (down-regulatory/silencer) upstream elements. The specific technologies that the proposed research will utilize include (a) Northern and slot-blot hybridizations with sequence-specific cDNAs and synthetic oligomers; (b) polymerase chain reaction amplification for identification of human elastin cDNA and mRNA sequences; (c) transient cell transient cell transfection assays utilizing promoter/CAT gene constructs for elucidation of cis-and trans-acting control elements in human cells. We expect that the approaches utilizing these highly sophisticated techniques of molecular biology will allow us to pinpoint the key regulatory elements controlling elastogenesis in tissues under physiologic conditions. Elucidation of normal biochemistry and molecular biology of elastin provides a basis to explore elastin aberrations in clinical situations in the future.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01AR028450-08A3
Application #
3155659
Study Section
General Medicine A Subcommittee 2 (GMA)
Project Start
1987-01-01
Project End
1995-06-30
Budget Start
1990-07-01
Budget End
1991-06-30
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
1990
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Thomas Jefferson University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
061197161
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19107
Li, Qiaoli; Kingman, Joshua; van de Wetering, Koen et al. (2017) Abcc6 Knockout Rat Model Highlights the Role of Liver in PPi Homeostasis in Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum. J Invest Dermatol 137:1025-1032
Li, Qiaoli; Kingman, Joshua; Sundberg, John P et al. (2016) Dual Effects of Bisphosphonates on Ectopic Skin and Vascular Soft Tissue Mineralization versus Bone Microarchitecture in a Mouse Model of Generalized Arterial Calcification of Infancy. J Invest Dermatol 136:275-283
Li, Qiaoli; Kingman, Joshua; Uitto, Jouni (2015) Mineral content of the maternal diet influences ectopic mineralization in offspring of Abcc6(-/-) mice. Cell Cycle 14:3184-9
Jin, Liang; Jiang, Qiujie; Wu, Zhengsheng et al. (2015) Genetic heterogeneity of pseudoxanthoma elasticum: the Chinese signature profile of ABCC6 and ENPP1 mutations. J Invest Dermatol 135:1294-1302
Li, Qiaoli; Sundberg, John P; Levine, Michael A et al. (2015) The effects of bisphosphonates on ectopic soft tissue mineralization caused by mutations in the ABCC6 gene. Cell Cycle 14:1082-9
Li, Qiaoli; Price, Thea P; Sundberg, John P et al. (2014) Juxta-articular joint-capsule mineralization in CD73 deficient mice: similarities to patients with NT5E mutations. Cell Cycle 13:2609-15
Li, Qiaoli; Guo, Haitao; Chou, David W et al. (2014) Mouse models for pseudoxanthoma elasticum: genetic and dietary modulation of the ectopic mineralization phenotypes. PLoS One 9:e89268
Li, Qiaoli; Pratt, C Herbert; Dionne, Louise A et al. (2014) Spontaneous asj-2J mutant mouse as a model for generalized arterial calcification of infancy: a large deletion/insertion mutation in the Enpp1 gene. PLoS One 9:e113542
Boraldi, Federica; Bartolomeo, Angelica; Li, Qiaoli et al. (2014) Changes in dermal fibroblasts from Abcc6(-/-) mice are present before and after the onset of ectopic tissue mineralization. J Invest Dermatol 134:1855-1861
Li, Qiaoli; Brodsky, Jill L; Conlin, Laura K et al. (2014) Mutations in the ABCC6 gene as a cause of generalized arterial calcification of infancy: genotypic overlap with pseudoxanthoma elasticum. J Invest Dermatol 134:658-665

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