# ROLE OF A NOVEL PROTEIN IN THE WNT-1 SIGNALLING PATHWAY

> **NIH NIH K08** · HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL · 1994 · $73,809

## Abstract

Cell-cell signalling is a fundamental process in pattern development.
The Drosophila segment polarity genes encode mediators of cell-cell
signalling that function both during embryonic and imaginal development.
One of these, wingless, encodes a secreted protein, homologous to the
Wnt-1 protooncogene, that functions to determine cell fate in the
developing fly.  Mutations in the wingless signalling pathway that act
during embryogenesis lead to alterations in the pattern of the embryonic
segments, while mutations acting later in development affect a variety
of adult structures.  While the mechanism by which wingless signal
transduction occurs is poorly understood, the dishevelled gene appears
to play a key role in this process.  In addition to mediating the
wingless cell-cell signalling pathway, dishevelled is required for
generation of the wild type tissue polarity manifested in the pattern of
hairs and bristles on the adult cuticle.  Control of tissue polarity also
appears to involve a cell-cell signalling process.  Therefore,
dishevelled is important in two developmental pathways requiring cell-
cell signalling, and serves as a paradigm for understanding the
mechanisms by which cells communicate in developmental processes.  In
this proposal, I focus on experiments to elucidate the molecular
mechanism by which dishevelled transduces intercellular signals in both
the wingless and tissue polarity pathways, and to identify other gene
products involved in these processes.

My long range goals include developing an understanding of normal and
abnormal developmental processes and their role in health and disease.
I hope to continue in a career involving basic science research in an
academic setting, and to maintain an interface with the practice of
medicine both as a source for stimulation of research questions, and as
a potential outlet for applications arising from the pursuit of those
questions.  I will be undertaking a postdoctoral fellowship during the
course of this granting period in Dr. Norbert Perrimon's laboratory in
the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, which provides an
ideal intellectual and physical environment in which to undertake these
pursuits.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2194576
- **Project number:** 5K08HD001036-02
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
- **SAM.gov UEI:** JDLVAVGYJQ21
- **Principal Investigator:** Jeffrey D. Axelrod
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $73,809
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1993-07-01 → 1996-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2194576

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2194576, ROLE OF A NOVEL PROTEIN IN THE WNT-1 SIGNALLING PATHWAY (5K08HD001036-02). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2194576. Licensed CC0.

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