Little is known about the molecular pathogenesis of nervous system tumors such as meningiomas and schwannomas. Individuals affected with neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) develop these tumors at increased frequency. In addition, mutations and loss of NF2 gene expression are associated with the development of sporadic schwannomas and meningiomas, suggesting that the NF2 gene product, merlin is a critical growth regulator for Schwann cells and meningeal cells. The NF2 tumor suppressor gene bears sequence similarity to Protein4.1 proteins that link the actin cytoskeleton to cell surface glycoproteins. Previous work from out laboratory has demonstrated that merlin regulates cell motility and proliferation as well as cell spreading. In this application we propose to test the hypothesis that merlin integrates several different several cellular processes important for tumor formation and progression reflected by its ability to regulate cell spreading (tumor initiation), cell proliferation (tumor growth) and cell motility (tumor spread). The experiments proposed in this application are aimed at determining how the merlin tumor suppressor functions as a negative growth regulator by defining merlin functional domains, critical merlin protein interactions and relevant intracellular signaling pathways. Our ability to design rational therapies for schwannomas and meningiomas is dependent on an improved understanding of the mechanisms by which loss of merlin expression and function promotes tumor formation.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS035848-06
Application #
6539908
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-MDCN-2 (01))
Program Officer
Finkelstein, Robert
Project Start
1997-07-28
Project End
2004-06-30
Budget Start
2002-07-01
Budget End
2003-06-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$308,000
Indirect Cost
Name
Washington University
Department
Neurology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
062761671
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130
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Rong, Rong; Surace, Ezequiel I; Haipek, Carrie A et al. (2004) Serine 518 phosphorylation modulates merlin intramolecular association and binding to critical effectors important for NF2 growth suppression. Oncogene 23:8447-54
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Rong, Rong; Tang, Xiaoling; Gutmann, David H et al. (2004) Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) tumor suppressor merlin inhibits phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase through binding to PIKE-L. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 101:18200-5
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Robb, Victoria A; Li, Wen; Gascard, Philippe et al. (2003) Identification of a third Protein 4.1 tumor suppressor, Protein 4.1R, in meningioma pathogenesis. Neurobiol Dis 13:191-202
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Sun, Chun-Xiao; Haipek, Carrie; Scoles, Daniel R et al. (2002) Functional analysis of the relationship between the neurofibromatosis 2 tumor suppressor and its binding partner, hepatocyte growth factor-regulated tyrosine kinase substrate. Hum Mol Genet 11:3167-78

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